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MALIMBÜS

?/-

'oH

5/ Sr^S

Journal of the West African Ornithological Society

Société d’Ornithologie de l’Ouest Africain

VOLUME 5

Number 1 , May

WEST AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

SOCIÉTÉ D’ORNITHOLOGIE DE L’OUEST AFRICAIN

Council 1982-1985

President Professor Brian J. Harris

Vice-President Dr Gérard J. Morel

Hon. Secretary Professor John H. Elgood

Hon. Treasurer & Membership Secretary Mr Robert E. Sharland

Managing Editor, Malimbus Dr C. Hilary Fry

Correspondence should be addressed as follows:

- to the Managing Editor (Aberdeen University Department of Zoology,

Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen AB9 2TN, Scotland, U.K.) regarding contribu-

tions to Malimbus and purchase of back numbers (i.e. the Bulletin of the

Nigerian Ornithologists' Society)

- to the Hon. Treasurer (39 Avon Castle Drive, Ringwood, Hants, U.K.

regarding subscriptions and financial matters

- to the President (Department of Biological Sciences, Ahmadu Bello

University, Zaria, Nigeria) or Vice-President (Station d' Ornithologie,

Richard-Toll, B.P. 20, Sénégal) regarding policy matters

- to the Hon. Secretary (26 Walkford Way, Highcliffe, Dorset BH23 5LR, U.K.)

regarding all other matters

The Society grew out of the Nigerian Ornithologists' Society, which was

founded in 1964. Its object is to promote scientific interest in the birds

of West Africa and to further the region's ornithology mainly by means of the

publication of its journal Malimbus (formerly the Bulletin of the Nigerian

Ornithologists' Society) .

Applications for membership are welcomed. Annual membership subscription

rates are £6.00* for Ordinary Members and £15.00* for Corporate Members.

Members receive Malimbus free of charge.

BACK NUMBERS : Vols. 11 (1975), 12 (1976), 13 (1977) and 14 (1978) of the

Bulletin of the Nigerian Ornithologists' Society (the same format as Malimbus)

and of Malimbus Vol. 1 (1979) onward are available at £3.00* per volume.

Most earlier volumes of the Bulletin are still available, at prices on

request.

* Payments may be made in £ sterling or FFr for encashment in U.K. or in

Nigerian N for encashment in Nigeria.

AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY PRESS : The Society acknowledges with gratitude

subsidy by the Ahmadu Bello University Press, Nigeria, to whom copyright of

Malimbus belongs.

ISSN : 0331 - 3689

Emblem design by Philip Blasdale

1983

Malinvbus

1

DONNEES NOUVELLES SUR MONTICOLA SOLITARIA ET MONTICOLA SAXATILIS

EN SENEGAMBIE

par Gérard J. Morel, Claude Monnet et Charles Rouchouse

Reçu 28 September 1982

Le Merle bleu M. solitaria et le Merle de roches M. saxatilis figurent

encore, en dépit de leur plumage coloré et de leur comportement, parmi les

migrateurs paléarctiques les plus mal connus. Ces deux espèces ne figurent

pas à l'inventaire des migrateurs paléarctiques du Sénégal de Morel et

Roux (1966) . Cela tient à leur habitat peu accessible et très inégalement

distribué et aussi à leurs effectifs modestes. Cette note se propose le

réunir les données nouvelles sur ces deux Turdinae en Sénégambie .

STATUT ET HABITAT

Le Merle bleu se reproduit en Europe et en Asie jusqu'au Japon et en Malaisie

(Vaurie 1959) . Il niche également en Afrique du Nord (Heim de Balsac et

Mayaud 1962) . Ce n'est qu'un migrateur partiel et une partie de la popul-

ation est sédentaire aussi bien en Europe méridionale qu'en Afrique du Nord.

Il habite les régions accidentées et s'adapte bien à certains grands édifices

et aux ruines (Rome, par exemple) . On le rencontre depuis le niveau de la

mer jusqu'à 2000 m en Espagne (Géroudet 1963) . Vaurie reconnaît 4 races.

Le Merle de roches se reproduit depuis l'Europe jusqu'à l'Asie. Il

niche aussi en Afrique du Nord, mais exclusivement en altitude, entre 1900

et 2000 mètres. En Europe aussi bien qu'au Maghreb, l'espèce est entièrement

migratrice. Il n'y a pas de sous-espèce.

Géroudet remarque que les deux Monticola ont "des préférences

assez différentes pour que les deux espèces se trouvent rarement réunies sur

le même terrain",* les différences respectives ne sont cependant pas

toujours claires.

HIVERNAGE EN SENEGAMBIE

Monticola solitaria

Il existe une seule observation ancienne de Delaroque au Sénégal (in

Bannerman 1936) . La première observation moderne est due à McGregor et

Landsborough-Thomson (1965) : un oiseau observé près de Banjul, Gambie,

du 28 janvier au 1er mars 1965. Ensuite:

- débuts 1966 et 1967: un sujet au même lieu près de Banjul.

- janvier 1974: un sujet à Barra, près de Banjul (in Gore 1981); c'est

la dernière observation en Gambie.

- 19 décembre 1973: un mâle sur l'îlot Serpent, au large de Dakar (F.

Roux com. pers.); première observation récente au Sénégal.

2

G. J. Morel, C. Monnet & C. Rouchouse

MAL IMBUS 5

- 14 janvier 1981 (une F à Corée (P. Géroudet et Y, Reverdin corn, pers.) .

- 19 novembre 1980 à 22 janvier 1981, à Diembéring, Casamance (12°28N) au

bord de la mer deux sujets M se tiennent sur un mur de clôture (A. Sala

corn, pers . ) .

- 17 février 1980, un sujet dans les éboulis des Mamelles et début mars un

au Cap Manuel, près de Dakar (V. Robert corn, pers.) .

Mais c'est sur les falaises de Popenguine, 40 km au SE de Dakar, que

le Merle bleu est le plus facilement observé.

La première observation eut lieu le 31 décembre 1978: un M et une F

(De Smet et Van Compel 1980) .

- 7 février 1981, CM et CR n'y observèrent qu'un couple; mais le 17 février

GJM, CR et CM en trouvèrent une vingtaine des deux sexes, mais non appariés,

dans les éboulis; le 5 mars, il n'en restait que trois ou quatre.

En 1982, les observations furent assurées par CR du 31 janvier à la

mi-mai et confirmèrent les observations de 1981: une vingtaine de sujets

en février et mars, avec diminution marquée vers le 20 mars et disparition

totale début mai. Seules des femelles furent encore observées à partir du

20 mars.

Les observations de Merles bleus se sont donc multipliées, surtout à

partir des années 80. Le site des falaises de Popenguine orienté Nord-Sud

se développe sur un bon kilomètre face à la mer. Sa géomorphologie se

caractérise par quelques parois verticales au nord du massif, mais

l'ensemble du site se présente surtout sous forme de plusieurs niveaux

d' éboulis latéri tiques ou marno-calcaires qui s'étalent en cahots rocheux,

dispersés sur une pente moyenne plus ou moins raide jusqu'au niveau de la

mer, A la mi-hauteur du site, des falaises, quelques terrasses et cuvettes

plus ou moins vastes se sont formées sur lesquelles subsiste une végétation

très clairsemée. Ce site privilégié retient donc au passage et assez

longtemps une petite population. La date du 31 décembre 1978 se rapporte

sans doute à 2 sujets hivernants. L'hivernage est certain, en revanche,

pour les 2 Merles bleus observés sur la côte de Basse-Casamance du 18

novembre au 22 janvier, dans un milieu pourtant inhabituel. Mais l'ensemble

de la population migratrice, dont le site de Popenguine permet de saisir

une fraction, doit hiverner plus au sud, vraisemblablemnt à partir des

massifs de Guinée.

Monticola saxatilis

Bannerman (1936) cite des spécimens collectés en Casamance et en Guinée

Bissau. En Gambie, la seule observation serait celle de Reichenow (1904),

rapportée par Marche et Compiègne {in Gore 1981) . Il ne semble pas y

avoir d'autres observations en Gambie: la phrase de Jensen et Kirkeby

(A1980) "Rare Palearctic passage migrant and winter visitor 13 December-

21 March apparently throughout The Gambia" doit être prise dans un sens

général plutôt que comme conclusion d'observations précises.

- 14 mars 1972: un M perché sur un arbre élevé, en forêt sèche, brûlée,

près de Kédougou, Sénégal oriental (GJM) .

- 16 février 1980: un M entre Rufisque et Thiès, près de Dakar (P. Géroudet

corn, pers . ) .

1983

Monticola spp en Sénégambie

3

- 17 février 1980: un M dans les éboulis rocheux des volcans des Mammelles

Dakar (V. Robert corn. pers.).

- 17 février 1981: dans la falaise de Popenguine, un M (CM, CR et GJM) .

- 5 mars 1981: Popenguine, un M (CR) .

Enfin, en 1982, CR en observa régulièrement deux ou trois à chaque

visite des 6-14 et 21 février. Il nota une nette diminution le 15 mars et

au 1er mai il ^ restait plus aucun Merle de roches.

Il ressort de ces dates qu'aucun Merle de roches ne paraît hiverner

en Sénégambie; mais la migration de retour semble, comme chez le Merle

bleu, s'accompagner de séjours prolongés en des sites favorables -

falaise de Popenguine, par exemple. L'hivernage s'effectue donc plus au

sud que le Sénégal, le milieu rocheux n'étant d'ailleurs pas indispensable.

RESUME

L'article réunit les observations relatives à M. solitarius et M. saxatilis

espèces jusqu'ici peu observées en Sénégambie. Un site rocheux près de

Dakar, Popenguine, peinnet d'y voir les deux espèces en février et mars à

raison d'une bonne dizaines d'individus. D'autre part, quelques M.

solitarius ont hiverné au Sénégal.

SUMMARY

The Rock Thrush M. saxatilis and Blue Rock Thrush M. solitarius have not

previously been observed commonly in Senegal. Several dozen occur in

February-March at a rocky locality near Dakar.

POSTSCRIPT

En 1982, CR observa du 1er novembre au 4 décembre entre 9 et 12 Merles

bleus au cours de 4 visites; il s'agissait vraisemblablement d'oiseaux

hivernants. En revanche, 3 Merles de roche furent seulement observés

le 4 décembre .

REFERENCES

DE SMET, K. et VAN COMPEL, J. (1980) Observations sur la côte sénégalaise

en décembre et janvier. Malimbus 2: 56-76

GEROUDET, P. (1963) La vie des oiseaux. Les Passereaux. Il Des Mésanges

aux Fauvettes. Delachaux et Niestlé. Neuchâtel.

GORE, M.E.J. (1981) Birds of the Gambia. B. O. U. Check-list, London

HEIM de BALSAC, H. et MAYAUD, N. (1962) Les oiseaux du Nord-Ouest de

l'Afrique. 1 vol. Lechevalier, Paris

JENSEN, J.V. & KIRKEBY, J. (1980) The Birds of the Gambia. Aros Nature

Guide, Aarhus

4

G. J. Morel, C. Monnet & C. Rouchouse

MALIMBUS 5

MCGREGOR, I.A. & LANDSBOROUGH-THOMSON, A. (1965) Blue Rock-thrush Monticola

solitarius in the Gambia. Ibis 107: 401

MOREL, G. et ROUX, F, (1966) Les migrateurs paléarctiques au Sénégal.

II Passereaux et synthèse générale. Terre et Vie: 143-176

VAURIE, C. (1959) The Birds of the Palearctic Fauna. Order Passeriformes.

Withe rby, London

G.J. Morel, ORSTOM Station d' Ornithologie , BP 20, Richard-Toll , Senegal

C. Monnet, ORSTOM Direction Generale , 24 rue Bayard, 75008 Paris, France

C. Rouchouse, ORSTOM Observatoire de Géophysique , M'Bour, Senegal

White-throated Bee-eater Merops albicollis , Guinee . Photo: D. Richards

1983

5

MOULT OF THE LONG-TAILED NIGHTJAR CAPRIMULGUS CLIMACURUS VIEILLOT

by Marc Herremans and Jan Stevens

Received 11 November 1982

Revised 15 February 1983

INTRODUCTION

This species is the commonest nightjar of the dry northern savanna belt;

it is solitarYf or in East Africa frequently in small parties; Jackson

(1938) reported groups up to 12. At Mbane (16°16'N, 15°48'W) on the east

coast of Lac-de-Guiers, northwest Senegal, Long-tailed Nightjars Caprimulgus

climacurus climacurus were found wintering in 1979/1980. Numbers had also

been noted at Mbane in December 1978 and 1980 and in April 1978 (D. Thys

van den Audenaerde, B. Goddeeris, J. Paulussen, T. De Meulenaer, K.

Verschoore, L. Janssens and A. Vrijdaghs, pers. comm.). About 70 birds were

present in January 1980. By day they rested on the ground in the shade of

trees and hedges around the main, closed garden of the village; after being

caught, many sat on roofs.

On 31 December 1979 and 1 January 1980, 20 individuals (called "Mbane

79") were mistnetted or trapped by "flicking". On 23 December 1980 K.

Verschoore, L. Janssens and A. Vrijdaghs sampled another 20 birds (called

"Mbane 80") in the same garden. In both years measurements and character-

istics of age, sex and moult were noted. All birds were then released;

the December 1980 ones were ringed.

Later, moult was studied further in 34 alcohol specimens of C. c.

climacurus and 2 of C, c. sclateri (all from Cameroon and Togo) in the

Koninklijk Museum voor Midden Afrika (KI’IMA) , and in another 123 skins,

mainly C. c. sclateri , from Zaire (but only selected specimens were examined

in detail, especially for the tail) . M. Louette studied five more skins

from the British Museum (Natural History) (BtîNH) , including three of the

race leoninus (lumped with sclateri by White, 1965) .

METHODS

At Mbane, maximum wing length and length of the outermost and innermost

tail feathers were measured by the method of Svensson (1975) . In "Mbane 79"

the breadth of the pale wing patch was measured along the quill on the outer

web of the fourth outermost primary. Birds of both samples were weighed.

Primaries are numbered descendently (Pi-Pio) / secondaries ascendently

(S1-S12/14) and tail feathers from the centre outwards (Tg-Ts) . Moult was

coded as follows: 0 = old feather, 1 = lacking, 2 = pin stage, 3 = brush

stage, 4 = estimated tenths of fullgrown length, N = new feather, p =

feather present but not aged, - = feather not traced.

For sexing we used plumage features: brightness and size of the wing

patch, colour of the wing edge, and pattern and shape of the whole tail

6

M. Herremans & J. Stevens

MALIMBUS 5

(Reichenow 1902; Bannerman 1933, 1953; Jackson 1938; Mackworth-Praed &

Grant 1970; Serle & Morel 1977) (see Figs. 1-3).

Ageing was also based on plumage features. Juveniles were easily

recognised by the softer plumage and the smaller, duller remiges and

rectrices (compare Fig. 1 to Figs. 2 and 3 (as in e.g. Caprimulgus

europaeus , Pieckocki 1966 and C. carolinensis , Rohwer 1971) . Old feathers

were obvious by wear and bleaching. The wing chord being determined by Pg

(and/or Pg) , a bird was considered adult only once Pg had been renewed and

became full grown (Fig. 1) . Each tail feather was judged independently and

consequently ascribed either to "males", "females" or to "juveniles". The

wing patch, measured on P7, is necessarily of a "male" or a “ female "-type,

because unmoulted (juvenile) Py's lack such a pale patch. In some particu-

lar cases, characteristics of a moulting juvenile bird can belong to

different categories: e.g. the wing patch can be that of a "juvenile"

(P0-Pj_Q old), the innermost (Tg) and second innermost (T2) rectrices, when

moulted and full grown, belong to the "adult male"-type and the outermost,

still unmoulted rectrix will have juvenile characteristics. Weight-data

fall either in the "male" or "female" categoiry, because sexing was possible

even in juveniles, all having renewed at least one remex or rectrix.

MEASUREMENTS

Table 1 lists some characteristics measured at Mbane . Sample size was not

constant partly because rectrices are easily lost by "flicking". In Table

2, levels of significance for differences in means between the categories

are indicated (Student t-test) . Wing length is somewhat less in juveniles

than in adults and it could average somewhat higher in males than in females.

Tail feathers are very much different in length between all groups, but

only the length of the innermost pair of rectrices is reliable as a sexing

and ageing character. Another good key to sexing is the breadth of the

wing patch.

No difference in weight appears between males and females (Table 3a) .

Between both winters, in contrast, the difference is noteworthy (Table 3b)

(a single-eyed female, weighing only 34 g, is excluded) .

ARRESTED MOULT

Table 4 lists moult stages of primaries and secondaries from the "Mbane 79"-

sample; in all, moult had been either arrested or completed. There was

great variation in the number of new feathers. The second Mbane sample gave

the same general pattern, but growing feathers were found in three birds.

It seems very unlikely that what we interpret as "arrested moult" (Table 4)

could be merely a coincidence or from a population with extremely protracted

moult, in which the next feather is only dropped after the previous one is

full grown (as in some resident African passerines, Stresemann & Stresemann

1966) .

Arrested moult was apparent in several of the Cameroon and Togo

specimens (Table 5) ; all specimens of C. c. climacurus in active moult were

characterized by a strikingly slow, protracted moult (Table 5) . Some

specimens of C. c. sclateri were found in arrested moult but most of them

were moulting quite protractedly; a few were moulting very rapidly (e.g.

1983

Moult of Caprimulgus climacurus

7

KMMA 228, Table 6) .

Arrested moult is not really exceptional,- it seems to occur rather

frequently, for instance in birds with unfavourable migration timing and

especially in dry country birds (e.g. Keast 1968; Payne 1972) . In some

migratory nightjars in the southern tropics, arrested moult is already well

known; it is the rule in C. rufigena and in Macrodipteryx vexillarius

(Stresemann & Stresemann 1966) .

C. c. sclateri , on the contrary, seems to be a resident or short

distance migrant of the wooded savannas and forest belt of the northern

tropics (Elgood, Fry & Dowsett 1973) . The nominate C. c. climacurus

breeds in the northern dry savanna belt during the rainy season and goes as

far south as the forest edge and its clearings in the dry season. But part

of the population remains resident in the north, and Morel (1968) even noted

it as resident and breeding in the dry season in northern Senegal. As

Elgood et al. (1973) put it; "The movements of this nightjar are far from

adequately understood, . . , and it seems to breed practically throughout the

year" .

Although the species is said to breed as far north as the desert edge

(Bannerman 1953), Serle & Morel (1977) limit the breeding area north to

17°N and in Snow (1978) the most northern locations in western Africa are

found in the Senegal river valley, only a few km north of Mbane . Con-

sequently, the flock wintering at Mbane can hardly be considered long-

distance migrants; the suspension of moult is unlikely to be caused by

migration, but is probably related to food scarcity, caused by drought.

This seems to hold with the fact that C. c. sclateri , generally known

from more luxuriant habitats, appears to moult somewhat faster.

Because rainfall varies considerably from year to year in the Sahel,

it seems probable that moult of nightjars at Mbane does not progress at the

same speed each year. Indeed, among the 20 birds of "Mbane 80", one was

still moulting actively in a "regular" sequence (Table 5, 4x29518) and two

others irregularly (though presumably not by accident) . 1980 was a wetter

year than 1979 (Thys van den Audenaerde, pers. comm.)*. Indeed, the birds

average significantly heavier in 1980 than in 1979 (Table 3) , which

indicates a better general condition in 1980. In this view, one could

expect that moult on the average should have been further advanced before

suspension in 1980 than in 1979. However, no difference in moult scores was

found between the years, neither in primaries ~ 1.96; P > 0.25) nor

secondaries (X^f=2 “ 0-57; P > 0.5), denying the supposed relation.

* Pluviométrie data (supported by the National Direction of Meteorology and

ORSTOM, Senegal) from relatively nearby stations (St Louis, Dagana, Podor,

Kébémer) only partly support the view of a generally wetter year 1980,

presumably due to the quite local and erratic nature of precipitation in

the Sahel (mainly thunderstorms) . Moreover, general humidity will be

influenced by the surroundings because Mbane is close to Lac-de-Guiers,

which is part of the inundation zone of the Senegal river.

8

M. Herremans & J, Stevens

MALIMBUS 5

Figure 3 C. c. climacurus , male in fully adult dress (moult completed) ;

Mbane 1 January 1980

1983

Moult of Caprimulgus climacurus

9

Table 1 Measurements (in mm) of long-tailed nightjars at Mbane (Senegal)

10

M. Herremans & J. Stevens

MALIMBUS 5

Table 3 Weights (grams) of Long- tailed Nightjars at Mbane

1983

Moult of Caprimulgus climacurus

11

Table 5 Wing moult patterns of Long-tailed Nightjars C. c. climacurus

con t . /

12

M. Herremans & J. Stevens

MALIMBUS 5

° specimen from "Mbane 80"

MOULT STRATEGY

A single bird in arrested moult is normally useless when studying the exact

progress of moult, but comparison of moult-patterns of a series can some-

times be very helpful in understanding this process. To confirm results of

the Mbane samples, active moult was studied on alcohol specimens and skins.

Primaries

The ten primaries are renewed descendently (Tables 4-6) , as in other night-

jars (Stresemann & Stresemann 1966, Rohwer 1971) .

1983

Moult of Caprimulgus climacurus

13

Table 7 Tail moult patterns of Long-tailed Nightjars

Secondaries

There are usually twelve secondaries; in some alcohol specimens (Tables 5,

6 and KMMA 3.925) thirteen were found (at least at one side) as has also

happened in C, carolinensis (Rohwer 1971) and M. vexillarius (Stresemann &

Stresemann 1966) . Two specimens (KMMA 2292 and V1940) even had 14

secondaries, both only in the right wing. In other cases the thirteenth

and fourteenth secondary could have been overlooked or mistaken for a

covert, as they are very small. Siq-S]_4 are suite unreliable in moult study,

for their age is sometimes difficult to judge.

Two different moult strategies are known in the secondaries of

Caprimulgidae (Fig. 4a: general pattern, after Stresemann & Stresemann

1966; Fig. 4b: particular one in C. carolinensis , after Rohwer 1971) .

For the Long-tailed Nightjar, a new strategy is evident (Fig. 4c) . Moult

of secondaries occurs in two units: an inner one starting around secondary

14

M. Herremans & J. Stevens

MALIMBUS 5

4Hh4 I f I

Figure 4 Wing-moult strategies in Caprimulgidae . A - general pattern

(after Stresemann & Stresemann, 1966) , B - particular one in C.

carolinensis (after Rohwer, 1971), C - particular one in C. climacurus

Figure 5 Above: average model for moult in C. climacurus . Below:

frequency of unmoulted remiges in birds showing arrested moult (P -

primaries, S - secondaries, 0 - old feather, N - new feather, n - number

of remiges, t - time)

1983

Moult of Caprimulgus climacurus

15

nine and progressing with two divergent foci, and an outer unit, starting

with the outermost secondary and moulting ascendently. The fifth secondary

is the last to be renewed (whether as part of the descendent or of the

ascendent focus is not yet clear) . If S5 belongs to the descendent focus,

moult converges into the diastataxic point, which should be exceptional

among nightjars. Stresemann & Stresemann (1966) stated: "However, there

exists also diastataxic species in which the moult-wave crosses this inter-

face, e.g. ..., Caprimulgi". Convergence of moult towards the diastataxic

point could be a characteristic of C. climacurus , a species not mentioned

by Stresemann & Stresemann.

Many moult-patterns in Tables 4-6 agree with Fig. 4c, but could also

be attributed to one or both of the other strategies. Especially birds in

arrested moult and birds moulting very slowly fit into one or the other

patterns. However, the schemes of Tables 4-6 should be convincing for the

proposed pattern. Irregularities are to be found rather frequently and

there seems to be a marked variation in the relative progress of the

different foci: in the secondaries there is apparently variation between

some modes as

1-2 3/8 4/7 ^ _

--9-- ■ i5'“n ■ - s - 5 , and

9 - 10 - 11 - ---:; — t t t which the outer and the inner

i/o 234

units are emphasized respectively. In the inner unit, it appears as if some

feathers around Sq are most frequently renewed rather simultaneously.

In Fig. 5 (top), an average model is proposed for the moult of remiges .

The lower part of the figure illustrates the frequency of remaining remiges

in birds showing arrested moult (based on both samples of Mbane and 34

alcohol specimens in KIIMA) .

Rectrices

Moult patterns of the ten rectrices are not yet ve2ry clear, at least as

there seems to be a marked variation on this point. Table 7 lists recorded

moult patterns (mainly of skins) . Some patterns indicate a sequence

T1-T2-T3-T5-T4, which agrees with Stresemann & Stresemann (1966) and Rohwer

(1971) for other nightjars. A few patterns appear divergent (e.g. KMMA

76.708, 96.621), as once proposed by Verheyen (1965) . In several birds a

tendency of T2 being properly renewed before T^ is noted (e.g. KMMA 35.064,

31.415; BMNH 1951; 34.278; 4x29518). Some cases even suggest that T3

may be renewed before T2 and T^ (KMMA 76.812; BMNH 1953.2.41, 1951.34.276).

Other patterns appear to be completely irregular.

SUMMARY

During winters 1979/80 and 1980/81 samples Long-tailed Nightjars, C. c.

climacurus , were studied in northwest Senegal; investigations were completed

with museum material.

Of 40 mid-winter birds only three were in active moult; 9 had completed

moult and the others were in arrested moult. Birds from Togo and Cameroon

were either in arrested moult or moulting very protractedly. Some C. c.

16

M. Her reman s & J. Stevens

MALIMBUS 5

sclateri (from more luxuriant vegetation) were in arrested or protracted

moult; others are fast moulters.

The ten primaries are renewed descendently . Moult of secondaries is

aberrant: an ascendent outer focus, and the descendent focus of a divergent

inner unit, converge to the fifth secondary (or maybe to the diastataxic

point S4/S5) . The divergent inner unit starts apparently simultaneously

with moult around Sg. Several birds had 13-14 secondaries. Tail moult was

variable with some aberrations: e.g. replacement of the second innermost

before the innermost pair.

ACKNOWLE DGEMENTS

We are most grateful to Dr M. Louette, KMT^A, for advice and comments upon

earlier drafts, and for facilities when studying specimens at the museum.

Prof Dr Ir. D. Thys van den Audenaerde, director of the KMMA, was the

indispensable guide in Senegal during both expeditions, and we would like

to express our sincere thanks to him for the opportunity for this study.

The director. National direction of Meteorology, and J.C. Olivry, ORSTOM

Senegal, kindly provided climatological data. R. Meeus and H. Doutrelepont

were helpful in preparing the illustrations. We are also grateful to Mr

I.C.J. Galbraith, BMNH, for loan of skins. Finally, we wish to thank L.

Audenaert and M. Minnick for correcting the English manuscript.

REFERENCES

ELGOOD, J.H., FRY, C.H. & DOWSETT, R.J. (1973) African migrants in Nigeria.

Ibis 115: 1-45

JACKSON, J.F. (1938) The Birds of Kenya Colony and the Uganda Protectorate

(Vol. II) . London, Gurney and Jackson

KEAST, A. (1968) Moult in birds of the Australian dry country relative to

rainfall and breeding. J. Zool . Lend. 155: 185-200

MOREL, G. (1968) Contribution à la synecologie des oiseaux du Sahel

Sénégalais. O. R. S. T. O. M., Dakar

PAYNE, R. B. (1972) Mechanisms and control of mo In Farner, D.S. &

King, J.R. (eds.) Avian Biology 2: 103-155, Academic Press, New York.

PIECHOCKI, R. (1966) Untersuchungen über den Geslechtsdimorphismus am

Ziegenmelker {Caprimulgus e. europaeus) . Vogelwelt 87: 106-112

REICHENOW, A. (1902) Die Vogel Afrikas (Vol. II). Neudamm.

ROHWER, A.S. (1971) Molt and the annual cycle of the Chuck -Wi 11 ' s -Widow

{Caprimulgus carolinensis) . Auk 88: 485-519

STRESEMANN, E. & STRESEMANN, V. (1966) Die Mauser der Vogel. J. Orn.

(Sonderheft) 107: 1-447

SVENSSON, L. (1975) Identification Guide to European Passerines . Stockholm,

Nat. Riksm.

Marc He r remans , Koninklijk Museum voor Midden Afrika, B-1980

Tervuren , Belgi urn

Jan Stevens, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Laboratorium voor

Systematiek & Ecologie , Naamsestraat 59, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium

1983

17

THE BIRDS OF BAMINGUI -BANGORAN NATIONAL PARK, CENTRAL AFRICAN

REPUBLIC

by Arthur A. Green

Received 8 December 1982

Revised 20 February 1983

INTRODUCTION

Bamingui-Bangoran National Park (10,700 km^) and Vassako-Bolo Total Reserve

(860 km^) form a unit in northern Central African Republic (CAR) between

latitudes 07° 30' and 08° 45' N and longitudes 19°05' and 20° 20' E. The park

was created in 1936 to protect the Black Rhinoceros Diceros bicornis living

there in high density, following the massacres of these animals in Chad and

surrounding areas during 1925-35. In accordance with recommendations made

at the London Convention of 1933, the central portion of the park was

designated a total reserve in 1940.

The limits of the park are the M' Brés-N ' Délé road to the east, the

Bangoran River to the north, and the Bamingui River to the south and west.

These two rivers unite at the north-west corner of the park on the Chad

border, forming the Chari River (Fig. 1) . Two-thirds of the park lies on a

plateau of 400 to 500 m elevation; the flat northwestern third slopes

gently into the Chari Basin. Two regions of granite inselbergs are located

in the south and east of the park .

The 1200 mm and 1300 mm isohyets traverse the park in a NE-SW direction

(Fig. 1) . The 1200 mm isohyet may be considered as the limit between the

Sudan savanna zone to the north and the more humid guinea savanna zone to

the south. The average rainfall at Bamingui village during 12 years (1952-

65) was 1365 mm. The rainy season begins with showers in March or April;

heaviest rainfall occurs during July-September , and the season generally

ends abruptly at the end of October, although in some years rain continues

through November. The mean annual tenperature at Bamingui is about 27°C.

The range of temperatures during the rainy season is 20° -36° C; during

December and January lows are 8°-16° and highs are 33°-37° C; the hot

season of March-April seldom sees daytime highs exceeding 40°C, and the

harmattan is never severe during the dry season.

Although the Bamingui River flows all year, the Bangoran may dry up,

but retains water in basins, pools and channels. The floodplains, which are

not extensive along either river, may be filled in August-September . In the

interior, the Vassako is the principal stream; numerous other streams (some

flowing well into January) , ponds and waterholes supply wildlife with water

in the dry period. Salt licks are numerous, some (e.g. Mandabalé) very

large .

The mammal fauna is rich. Small herds of Korrigum Damaliscus lunatus

occur on the ironstone plains in the west-centre of the park. Giraffes

Giraffa Camelopardalis are found here as well as in the shrub and tree

savanna of the northeast of the park. Cheetahs Acinonyx jubatus may still

18

A. A. Green

MALIMBUS 5

survive in the north. The extensive areas of dry deciduous forest and

gallery forests provide habitat for Bush-pigs Potamochoerus porcus , Blue

Duikers Cephalophus monticola , Yellow-backed Duikers Cephalophus sylvicultor ,

and Black-and-white Colobus Colobus abyssinicus . Other large mammals include

Elephant Loxodonta a f ricana , Buffalo Syncerus caffer, Black Rhino, Hippo

Hippopotamus amphibius , Warthog Phacochoerus aethiopicus , Eland Taurotragus

derbianus , ten other species of antelopes, four of primates. Lion Panthera

leo. Leopard Panthera pardus , Wild Dog Lycaon pictus , Spotted Hyaena

Crocuta crocuta and numerous small carnivores.

There have been few studies of the birds of CAR. Malbrant (1952) dealt

with the birds of all of central Africa in a general way. Dragesco (1960a,

1960b) made some references to birds at Lake Gata in the northeas' of

Manovo-Gounda-Saint Floris National Park (sudan savanna). Jehl (1974) studied

Palaearctic migrants to CAR mainly at Bangui on the north edge of the rain-

forest, with only two references to Bamingui .

The present paper is based on field observations made in the south and

east of the park from July 1980 to April 1982. Henceforth "the park" will

refer to the guinea savanna zone (south of the 1200 mm isohyet) portion of

Bamingui -Ban goran National Park and extending about 10 km beyond the park

boundaries. Directing a school to train national park guards (Green, 1982)

did not leave me any time for studying raptors and other hard-to-identify

species, for mist-netting or for searching specific habitats; most

observations were made while going about my duties, and so lists for certain

families are short and incomplete .

HABITATS AND BIRDS

I recognise seven habitats supporting distinctive bird communities as

follows :

Riparian Rivers or streeims and the fringing forest on their banks, often

dominated by Syzygium guineense trees. (Typical birds include kingfishers,

flycatchers. Fish Eagle, Fishing Owl, Green-backed Heron, Hadada, White-

crested Turaco and Red- throated Bee-eater.)

Wetland Of several types. In the floodplain grasslands and in other low

grounds with deep soils (bas-fonds) there are marshes and shallow ponds

which may dry up in the dry season. On the ironstone plains there are

depressions which fill rapidly at the beginning of the rains, but which are

generally unable to retain water through the dry season.

Mare Kaha (50 km west of Bamingui village) is a good example of the

first type of pond. In December it is an open-water lake of about 50 ha

surrounded by tall grass and a few bushes. By late February when the

water level has gone down leaving half the area in mud-flats, multitudes

of waterfowl, herons, storks and waders occur. Mare Ava Kaba on the

Bangoran floodplain (50 km downstream of Bangoran village) is similar, but

three times as large (Glossy Ibis and Open-bills occur) . On the floodplain

at Bamingui village a large Oxbow pond holds Lesser Jacanas in January-

April, and I have seen Bitterns there. Black Storks occasionally occur in

the dry season.

1983

Bamingui-Bangoran, CAR

19

Figure 1 Map of Bamingui-Bangoran National Park, Central African Republic,

1 -Bamingui, 2 -Gandossi's Safari, 3 - Dangavo village, 4 - Bangoran

village, 5 -N'Délé village, 6 -Koukourou village, 7 - Ava Kaba, 8 - Salt-

lick Mandabalé, 9 -Mare Kaha, 10 -Eastern Inselbergs, 11 - Southern

Inselbergs, 12 -Cinq Mares.

20

A. A. Green

MALIMBUS 5

On the ironstone plains in the west of the study area there is a group

of shallow ponds known as the Cinq Mares, each up to 1.5 m deep and 1-4 ha

in area; there are other ponds and bas-fond ponds here too, and waterfowl

congregate in December- January, including White-eyed Pochard, Fulvous

Whistling-duck, Teal, Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Redshank, Curlew

and Marsh Harrier (most are rare in the east of the park) .

Grass Savanna Grassy floodplain prairies occur along rivers and larger

streams, invaded on deeply flooded portions by Mitragyna inermis trees. On

higher ground there are widely spaced Lophira lanceolata and Orossopteryx

febrifuga trees and mushroom-shaped termitaria. In large bas -fonds along

minor streams there are open grasslands with clusters of large trees {Khaya

senegalensis , Tamarindus indica, Anogeissus leiocarpus) on "cathedral"

termitaria {Macrotermes) . On ironstone plains with thin soil, short-grass

prairies are found; on sloping land over ironstone the soil is generally

deeper, the grasses taller and mushroom termitaria abound.

Evidently Ostriches were formerly frequent in the west of the park;

they are nearly extinct, but I saw a pair near Ava Kaba in April 1981.

Many grass savanna birds are migratory, and some arrival and departure

dates are given in Table 1. Rainy season visitors include Forbes' Plover

(ironstone plains and inselbergs, June-August) , Blue Rough-wing Swallow

(floodplains, March-October) , Grey-rumped Swallow (June-September) , and Red-

headed Quelea (grasslands and near villages) . Several Red-headed Queleas

nested near Bamingui village in August 1980 (absent 1981) .

Wooded Savanna Includes shrub and tree savanna mainly in the northeast,

and savanna woodland or open forest elsewhere. Thorny trees are rare.

Dominant trees are Terminalia laxiflora , Grewia mollis, Combretum

hypopilinum, Anogeissus leiocarpus , Isoberlinia doka, Hymenocardia acida,

Monotes kerstingii , Crossopteryx febrifuga .

Table 1 shows several migratory birds of wooded savannas. European

Golden Orioles disappear from the region by mid-April, but I saw one at

Cinq Mares on 31 May. African Golden Orioles are less common during

December-February . Vitelline Masked Weavers nested this far south in 1981,

disappearing in early November. Swallow-tailed Bee-eaters have been found

near Dangavo and at Kaga Zou in the dry season. I found a dead Spotted

Thicknee near Dangavo in December 1980.

Forest Dry deciduous forest (composed for the most part of savanna tree

species) and gallery forest are quite extensive in the park, and south of

the Bamingui are several km in diameter. Typical birds include Piping,

Brown-cheeked and Black-and-white Casqued Hornbills, African Wood Owls,

Red-chested Cuckoos (calling February -July), Crested Guinea-fowls, Oriole

Warblers and Paradise Flycatchers.

Apparently rarer are Great Sparrowhawk, Marina's Trogon, Fraser's

Eagle Owl (Mandabalé salt-lick, 31 March) and Red-bellied Paradise Fly-

catcher.

Inselberg Bare granitic rock with occasional potholes holding water.

1983

Bamin^ui-Bangoran, CAR

21

Table 1 Sojourn and passage of migrants in Bamingui-Bangoran National Park

* "Departure" is when the last birds have finally disappeared; the majority

may have left a month or more earlier.

22

A. A. Green

MALIMBUS 5

patches of grass and shrubs, and clusters of trees such as Bombax costatum.

(Typical birds: Cinnamon-breasted Rock Bunting, Rock-loving Cisticola and

White-crowned Cliff-chat.

Human Habitation Along the M *Bres-N ' Délé road on the east of the park

there are a few small villages of 100-750 persons. Living mostly by hunting

and fishing, their cultivation (manioc and sorghum) is of limited extent.

Eight km upstream of Bamingui there is Mr. Gandossi ' s sport hunting safari

where a few families are permanently installed in their fields. A few semi-

permanent poachers' and fishermen's camps built of straw are found in the

west of the park with small gardens of maize, tomatoes, etc. Otherwise, for

hundreds of kms east and west, there is only virgin savanna.

Commoner near villages than elsewhere are Hooded Vultures, Black Kites,

Laughing Doves, Red-headed Lovebirds, and Grey-headed Sparrows.

DISCUSSION

The Appendix lists 258 species of birds recorded in the park. Casual

observations during less than two years are insufficient, but I have attempt-

ed to indicate the migratory status and abundance of each species and the

habitat where it was seen. Sequence and nomenclature follow White (1960-65)

except for the cliff chat Myrmecocichla coronata (see Green, 1980) . The

bird fauna of the park is typical of the guinea savanna zone, with the

addition of some forest and sudan savanna species. Water birds are less

varied and abundant than farther north, where the vast floodplains of the

Aouk and other rivers provide abundant habitat. Raptors are certainly more

varied than indicated in the Appendix.

Birds are protected in the parks and reserves, but some species may be

threatened by the use of pesticides to poison fish in the Bamingui,

Bangoran, Koukourou and other smaller rivers by fishermen from Kaga Bandoro

(100 km SW of the park) and from Chad who come here illegally. Being out-

siders and having no concern for the long term effects of their actions,

they poison the rivers in order quickly to obtain large quantities of fish

to sell in Bangui and elsewhere. The local Bamingui fishermen apparently

seldom use poisons. There appear to be more Fish Eagles and Pied Kingfishers

upstream of Bamingui village than downstream in the park, and C. A. Spinage

has suggested to me that pesticides in fish could be responsible. Analysis

of fish samples from the park, carried out by the US Fish and VJildlife

Service Columbia National Fisheries Research Laboratory demonstrated that

benzene hexachloride (BHC) , lindane, cis-chlordane, DDD, DDE, and DDT are

present; but dieldren (often used by fishermen) is absent. Total DDD, DDE

and DDT was high (1.4-2. 8 ppm) . According to the US Food and Drug

Administration, persistent human exposure to the lindane residues found

(0.26-0.31 ppm) could be of health significance (pers . comm, to C. A.

Spinage) .

When a poisoning occurs, the river is covered with dead fish for 25 km

or more downstream; for a week thereafter, scavengers feed on rotting fish

on the riverbanks. Although I have no direct evidence of deaths in birds,

sub-lethal poisoning must occur if they eat contaminated fish or carrion.

South of the Bamingui River the savanna becomes more and more heavily

1983

B^raingui-Bangoran, CAR

23

wooded with vast areas of open forest and of dry deciduous forest. Ninety

km south of Bamingui I saw a Black-headed Bee-eater Bombylonax brewer! .

North of the Bangoran River thorn trees become common; I saw a Blue Rock

Thrush Monticola solitaris at N'Délé in November. White Pelicans Pelecanus

onocrotalus and Pink-backed Pelicans P. rufescens are found on the flood-

plain ponds in Manovo-Gounda-Saint Floris National Park northeast of N'Délé

(neither has yet been reported from the park) .

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

These observations were carried out while I was working in an FAO/UNDP

project for wildlife management in Central African Republic from June 1980

until May 1982. I am most grateful to C. H. Fry for his criticisms and

numerous suggestions to the second draft of this paper, to F. J. Walsh, A.

Brosse t and J. A. Sayer for their comments on the first draft, and to C. A.

Spinage for the data on pesticides found in fish from the park. I am

grateful to the FAO for permission to publish.

REFERENCES

DRAGESCO, J. (1960a) Notes biologiques sur quelques oiseaux d'Afrique

Equatoriale. Alauda 28(2) : 81-92

DRAGESCO, J. (1960b) Notes biologiques sur quelques oiseaux d'Afrique

Equatoriale. Alauda 28(4): 262-273

GREEN, A. A. (1980) Two populations of cliff-chats in the Arli-Pendjari

region. Malimbus 2: 99-101

GREEN, A. A. (1982) Le Centre de Formation des Gardes-chasse de Bamingui.

Rapport technique #1, FO: DP /CAF/ 78/006 . FAO, Rome. 83 pp

JEHL, H. (1974) Quelques migrateurs palearctiques en République Centrafricaine.

Alauda 42(4): 397-406

l'dALBRANT, R. (1952) Faune du Centre Africain Français (Mammifères et Oiseaux) .

Bull. Biologique, E. Lechevalier, Paris

Arthur A. Green f Range and Animal Development Research Center

UTFN/SAU/008, c/o UNDP, P. O. Box 558, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

24

A. A. Green

MALIMBUS 5

APPENDIX Birds observed in guinea savanna, Bamingui-Bangoran National Park,

1980-1982

Status R resident whole year, I irregular visitor, A intra -African

migrant, P Palaearctic migrant

Abundance A 1-2 sightings, B rare, C frequent, D common, E abundant

Nesting x indicates definite breeding in study area

Habitat Commonest habitat shown by x: A riparian, B wetland, C grass

savanna, D wooded savanna, E forest, F inselberg, G human

occupation

U)

■P

fd

p

0)

u

c

Id

mi

Cd

c

-H

P

O

0)

s

STRUTHIONIDAE

Struthio camelus

A

PHALACROCORACI DAE

Phalacrocorax africanus

Anhinga rufa

ARDEIDAE

Botaurus stellaris

Ixobrychus minutus

Ardeola ralloides

Ardeola ibis

Butorides striatus

Egretta alba

Ardea cinerea

Ardea melanocephala

Ardea goliath

Ardea purpurea

SCOP I DAE

Scopus umbretta

B

P A

A

P C

A D

R C

C

P D

A D

B

P B

R D X

CICONIIDAE

Ciconia nigra P B

Ciconia abdimii A D

Ciconia episcopus A B

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis C

Anastomus lamelligerus A B

Leptoptilus crumeniferus C

Ibis ibis A B

THRESKIORNITHIDAE

Threskiornis aethiopica A C

Bostrychia hagedash R D

Plegadis falcinellus P B

Month

(1-12)

4

1-6

2-6

2

1

11-12,1-6

10-12,1-6

1-12

10-12, 1-6

10- 12,1-5

11- 12,1-2

12,1-4

2-3

1-12

I- 3

10- 11, 1,3-4

II- 12,1-4

11- 12,1-6

I- 4

II- 12,1-5

1-4

12,1-4

1-12

1-3

Habitat

A B C D E F G

X

XXX

X

X X

X

X X

X

X X

XXX

X X

XXX

X

X X

X

1983

Bamingui -Bangor an, CAR

25

o

u

§ io Habitat

m â I Month A B C D E F G

AN ATI DAE

X

X X

X

26

A. A. Green

MALIMBUS 5

d)

u

w I 2 Month

Habitat

A B C D E F G

OT I DI DAE

1983

Bamingui-Bangoran, CAR

27

Habitat

A B C D E F G

X

X X

X

X X

X

XXX

X X

X

X X

28

A. A. Green

MALIMBUS 5

CORACIIDAE

Coracias abyssinica

Coracias cyanogaster

Eurystomus glaucurus

UPUPIDAE

Upupa epops

Phoeniculus purpureus

Phoeniculus aterrimus

BUCEROTIDAE

Tockus nasutus

Bycanistes fistulator

Bycanistes cylindricus

Bycanistes subcylindricus

Bucorvus abyssiniens

CAPITONIDAE

Lybius dubius

Lybius bidentatus

Lybius leucocephalus

Lybius vieilloti

Pogoniulus chrysoconus

INDICATORIDAE

Indicator indicator

PICIDAE

Campethera punctiligera

Campethera caillautii

Dendropicos fuscescens

Dendropicos obsoletus

Mesopicos goertae

ALAUDIDAE

Mirafra rufocinnamomea

HIRUNDINIDAE

Hirundo rustica

Hirundo smithii

Hirundo aethiopica

Hirundo senegalensis

Hirundo abyssinica

Hirundo griseopyga

Deli chon urbica

Psalidoprocne pristoptera

MOTACILLIDAE

Motacilla flava

Motacilla alba

Macronyx croceus

LANIIDAE

Prionops plumata

Dryoscopus gambensis

Dryoscopus senegalensis

m

g

4-)

fC

-p

c/2

0)

u

c

C

g

a

•H

■P

cn

0)

S

Month

Habitat

A B C D E F G

A D 11-12,1-6

R B 1-12

B 1,6-9

XX X

X X

A

C

D

11-12,1-5 X

11-12,1-6 X XX

7-10 X X

A D 10-12,1-6

R B 1-12

R C 1-12

X

C 12,1-2

I A 2

R E 1-12

A 5

X

R D 1-12

X

B 3-4,6

A 3-4

R C 1-12

A 10, 1

R C 1-12

X X

X

X X

R C 1-12

X

PA 10

R E 1-12

A X 8-12

R B 1-12

R E 1-12

A C 6-9

P A 11-12

D 3-10

X

X X

X XX

X X

X

X X

X

P D 10-12,1-3 X X

R D 1-12 X

R B 1-12 X

X

A 8-9

A 10

R C 1-12

X

X X

X

1983

Bamingui-Bangoran, CAR

29

Habitat

A B C D E F G

Tchagra minuta

Tchagra senegala

Laniarius ferrugineus

Laniarius barbarus

Malaconotus sulfureopectus

Malaconotus multicolor

Malaconotus blanchoti

Lanius senator

ORIOLIDAE

Oriolus oriolus

Oriolus auratus

DICRURIDAE

Dicrurus adsimilis

STURNIDAE

Lamprotornis purpurea

Cinngric inclus leucogaster

Buphagus africanus

CORVIDAE

Corvus albus

CAMPEPHAGIDAE

Coracina pectoral is

Campephaga phoenicea

PYCNONOTIDAE

R C

R D

1-12

3-4

10,3-

1-3

P D

A C

10-12,1-4,5

12,1-3

R C

1-12

R D

A B

R C

1-12

3-4

1-12

R C

1-12

6,8-9

9,2,4

Month

30

A. A. Green

MALIMBUS 5

1983

31

THE MARSH OWL ASIO CAPENSIS: A WET SEASON MIGRANT

TO THE GAMBIA

by M.E. Smalley

Received 24 February 1983

Marsh Owls Asia capensis occur on a small coastal marsh at 13°40'N,

16°50'W in The Gambia during and just after the rainy season ( June-October) .

Their numbers were counted for four years, 1977-1980, by systematic

searching of the marsh between 1700 and 1830 h every day. There was no

evidence of breeding. Each year they appeared in July and increased to

maxima of 26-53 birds in the second half of August, then decreased until

December (Fig. 1) . They roosted communally in a section of the marsh of

about 100 X 250 m containing five islands of grasses and sedges, each c.

150 m2 in area, in an area of sand partly ringed by mangroves. Roosting

densities were high, for the birds congregated on only one or two islands,

but moved from day to day so that no island was especially favoured. Up to

28 owls roosted on one island, with an average density of one per 16 m2

(range one per 2-40 m2) . Owls flushed by the searchers flew round above

them and then settled onto bare sand, plunged into herbage, or perched in

the mangrove. They were always silent despite harrassment by Grey-headed

Gulls Larus cirrocephalus , Caspian Terns Sterna caspia and, particularly.

Pied Crows Corvus albus . Only once did a flushed owl fly away from the

marsh, on 14 October 1978, when one of only six owls present rose high and

drifted out of sight to the east.

At each resting site the vegetation was flattened, with tmnels into

the grasses and sedges so that the bird remained covered over; most sites

contained pellets and moulted contour feathers.

In West Africa Marsh Owls breed during the dry season, October-April

(Table 1) , and there is evidence that some then disperse away for the wet

season (Lamarche 1980, Smith & Killick-Kendrick 1964) , Gee & Heigham

(1977) described them as migrants at Lagos and Sharland & Wilkinson (1981)

consider them to be rare wet season visitors to Kano State, Nigeria.

While The Gambian birds could be from Morocco there is no evidence for

any west Saharan movement (D.W. Snow, pers, comm.) . The nearest known

breeding population is in Mali (Table 1) where they are common south of

17°N (Lamarche 1980) . The Gambia lies about 1000 km west of that population,

and if part of it moved westward in April or May, after breeding, some birds

could reach the West African coast along the River Gambia. It is interest-

ing that Marsh Owls have been recorded neither along nor at the mouth of

the River Senegal (G.J. Morel pers. comm.) . That the Mali population

decreases when The Gambian one increases, and vice versa, suggests that

they are the same birds .

NUMBER OF A. capons is

32

M.E. Smalley

MALIMBUS 5

Table 1 Breeding records of Asia capensis in West Africa

Mali: Tilembaya Mar: eggs and nestlings

Mopti Feb: display flight (Lamarche 1980)

Nigeria: Vom Nov-Dec: eggs

Dec: nestlings and fledglings (Smith & Ki Hick -Kendrick 1964)

Table 2 Other West African records of Asia capensis

*

Pendjari/Arli National Park; perhaps a breeding population (MES)

(There are further records from the Lake Chad basin and the Cameroon

montane - Ed)

JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER

Figure 1 Occurrence of Asia capensis on a coastal marsh in The Gambia

1983

Ma'-sh Owl in The Gambia

33

Such large numbers have not been recorded in The Gambia hitherto.

Hopkinson (1911) recorded one 180 km up the River Gambia (month?) , and one

was identified near Banjul (10 km from my study area) in October 1970.

Records of Short-eared Owls Aslo flammeus in The Gambia (Banjul, September

1965; study marsh, December 1972 and twice in January 1974) may refer to

Marsh Owls (Gore 1981) .

In Eas _ Africa Marsh Owls are nomadic rather than truly migratory

(L.H. Brown pers. comm.), but in West Africa many bird species tend to move

more regularly- The pattern of wet season sightings of Marsh Owls in West

Africa away from known breeding areas (Table 2) lends support to the belief

that they are partly migratory.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I gratefully acknowledge the helpful correspondence of the late Mr L.H.

Brown and of Dr G. Morel, Mr R.E. Sharland and Dr D.W. Snow. I am also

indebted to Mr M.E.J. Gore for his comments on an early draft of the paper.

SUMMARY

Up to 53 Marsh Owls Asio capensis occur in a communal roost on The Gambia

coast in July-December, without evidence of breeding. It is suggested

that they are migrants from Mali.

REFERENCES

GEE, J. & HEIGHAM, J. (1977) Birds of Lagos, Nigeria. Bull. Niger. Orn.

Soc. 13: 43-52

GORE, M.E.J. (1981) Birds of The Gambia. B.O.U. Check-list No. 3, London

GREEN, A. A. & SAYER, J.A. (1979) The Birds of Pendjari and Arli National

Parks

FRY, C.H. (1964) The birds of Zaria. III. Bull. Niger. Orn. Soc. 2: 67-79

HALL, P. (1976) The Birds of Mambilla Plateau. Bull. Niger. Orn. Soc. 12:

67-42

HOPKINSON, E. (1911) Bird Notes, New Ser. 2. Avian Press, London

LAMARCHE, B. (1980) Liste commentée des oiseaux du Mali (part 1) . Malimbus

2: 121-158

SHARLAND, R.E. & WILKINSON, R. (1981) The birds of Kano State, Nigeria.

Malimbus 3: 7-30

SMITH, V.W. & KILLICK-KENDRICK, R. (1964) Notes on the breeding of the

Marsh Owl Asio capensis in northern Nigeria. Ibis 106: 119-123

M.E. Smalley, Zoology Department, University of Nairobi,

P.O. Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya

POSTSCRIPT

Marsh Owls were again seen on the study marsh (but were not counted) during

the autumns of 1981 and 1982.

34

MALIMBUS 5

ABYSSINIAN ROLLERS CORACIAS ABYSSIN ICA AND EUROPEAN

ROLLERS C. GARRULUS IN THE GAMBIA

by M.E. Smalley

Received 24 February 1983

Two recent checklists have disagreed over the status of the T.uropean

Roller Coracias garrulus in The Gambia. Jensen & Kirkeby (1980) described

it as a rare winter visitor from mid December to late March, while Gore

(1981) accepted only one record, of a bird seen at Banjul in January 1968.

Morel (1972) listed specimens from Senegal, some 300 km north of The Gambia,

collected in September and others seen in August and September. He

ascribed the paucity of observations in Senegal and The Gambia to the

difficulty of distinguishing C. garrulus from the Abyssinian Roller C.

abyssinica .

The problem does not arise when the birds are in adult plumage since

C. abyssinica is then easily recognized by its long tail streamers compared

with the short tail of C. garrulus . But juvenile C. abyssinica and moulting

adults lack the tail streamers, v/hich presents difficulties in separating

them from C. garrulus . C. abyssinica has rich purple primaries, compared

with mainly black primaries of C. garrulus-, unfortunately that is a useful

field character only for perched birds seen in good light. Voices of the

two species are different, that of C. garrulus being harsher and deeper

than that of C. abyssinica .

C. abyssinica breeds to the north of The Gambia in the drier Sudan

savanna and Sahel-zones, nesting in northern Senegal between April and July

(Morel 1972) . There are no well substantiated reports of breeding in The

Gambia. It is a migrant, moving north to breed and afterward south into

the more humid woodland savannas. Both Jensen & Kirkeby (1980) and Gore

(1981) describe C. abyssinica as a dry season visitor to The Gambia from

October to Jixne or July, and the former also suggest it to be a common

autumn passage migrant through The Gambia.

Between 1977 and 1981 a study of the birds was made on the campus of

a research station in Fajara (13°40'N, 16°50'W). The extensive èpen spaces

of the 24 ha campus, with scattered shrubs and trees and mown grass, provide

the ideal habitat for perching birds like rollers that scan the ground for

prey. The proportions of each month that C. abyssinica was present in 1977-

1981 are given in Fig. 1. Numbers seen in a regular 1500 m walk around the

campus, carried out at least once a week in 1979, are shown in Fig. 2.

The study reveals a considerable drop in both residency and abundance

from April and June, but a small nonbreeding population remains. The first

birds lacking tail streamers, many in heavy body moult, appear in 10-19

July (mean date 15 July) and are common until 19-24 September (mean date

22 September) . Birds with growing streamers were noticed from September

onwards. During July and August the numbers of C. abyssinica are as high

in February and March but are variable (Fig. 2) , indicating that the

population is mobile. The birds may well be passing through The Gambia for

the south, as suggested by Jensen & Kirkeby (1980). Similarly, whilst the

residency was more than 90% of days in each month from October to April,

1983

Coracias spp in The Gambia

35

Figure 1 Residency of C. abyssinica in study area, 1977-1981 (birds in

adult plumage • , juveniles and adults in moult A )

Figure 2 Numbers of C. abyssinica counted in regular survey of study area

during 1979. Mean and S.D. of weekly counts. A - All C. abyssinica .

B - Juveniles and adults in moult A , birds in adult plumage O •

the increase in numbers from January to March probably indicates pre-

breeding northward passage .

A consequence of the population movements by C. abyssinica is that

from July and September any C. garrulus present are very difficult to

discern, and it is then that C. garrulus has been noted in northern Senegal

(Morel 1972) and in Mali (Curry & Sayer 1979, Lamarche 1980) . Despite

careful scrutiny none were seen in The Gambia during these months. But in

other months C. garrulus is readily identifiable and any bird lacking tail

36

M.E. Smalley

MALIMBUS 5

streamers deserves close scrutiny. (I should note that no C. abyssinica

with broken tail streamers were seen during the study.)

At least six C. garrulus were identified in 1977-1981. One was seen

on 13 and 23 June 1978 (probably the same bird) ; one on 15 and 18

February 1979 (probably the same bird - in worn plumage on the second date) ;

one in fresh plumage on 1 March 1979; one on 12 and 14 May 1979 in vivid

fresh plumage; one on 13 June 1979; and one on 26 November 1980, with

brown streaks on dull blue breast indicating a juvenile, harassed by an

adult C. abyssinica which displaced it from three perches in quick

succession. These records considerably extend the period of occurrence of

C. garrulus in The Gambia, from late November to late June; it is clear

that it is a regular (if scarce) visitor. It is a rare or imcommon winter

visitor also to Ghana, Benin/Upper Volta and Nigeria (Macdonald 1978, Green

& Sayer 1979, Elgood 1982) .

SUMMARY

Coracias abyssinica is a passage migrant through The Gambia in spring and

autumn and a dry season visitor. C. garrulus is hard to detect from July

to September (when C. abyssinica is moulting) but in other months six were

recorded from November to June, 1977-1981; it is a regular but scarce

passage migrant or winter visitor in The Gambia.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am grateful to Mr M.E.J. Gore for his comments on the first draft of this

paper.

REFERENCES

CURRY, P.J. & SAYER, J.A. (1979) The inundation zone of the Niger as an

environment for Palaearctic migrants. Ibis 121% 20-40

ELGOOD, J.H. (1982) The Birds of Nigeria. B.O.U. check-list No. 4, London

GORE, M.E.J. (1981) Birds of The Gambia. B.O.U. check-list No. 3, London

GREEN, A. A. & SAYER, J.A. (1979) The Birds of Pendjari and Arli National

Parks (Benin and Upper Volta) . Malimbus 1: 14-28

JENSEN, J.V. & KIRKEBY, K. (1980) The Birds of The Gambia. Aros Nature

Guides, Aarhus

LAMARCHE, B. (1980) Liste Commentées des Oiseaux du Mali (part 1) .

Malimbus 2: 121-158

MACDONALD, M.A. (1978) Records of Palaearctic migrants in Ghana. Bull.

Niger. Orn. Soc. 14: 66-70

MOREAU, R.E. (1972) The Palaearctic-African Bird Migration Systems.

Academie Press, London and New York

MOREL, G. J. (1972) Liste commentée des oiseaux du Sénégal et de la Gambie.

O.R.S.T.O.M. , Dakar

M.E. Smalley, Zoology Department, University of Nairobi

P. O. Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya

1983

37

HOME RANGE SIZE, BREEDING BEHAVIOUR, AND ACTIVITIES OF HELMET GUINEAFOWL

NUMIDA MELEAGRIS IN NIGERIA

by J.S.O. Ayeni

Received 20 September 1982

Revised 16 October 1982

INTRODUCTION

Literature on Helmet Guineafowl in Nigeria is still very scanty (Ayeni 1979) .

Ayeni (1981, 1982) reported on its habitat and feeding biology near Kainji

Lake; this paper reports further observations on distribution, home-range

sizes, numbers and activities within Kainji Lake National Park and adjoin-

ing areas.

METHODS

Distribution

Previous sightings of Guineafowl had been mapped in relation to the drainage

system in the Park; they occur mainly around known sources of dry season

surface water. It was decided to census them by trekking along a major

drainage system, the Oli River.

Three observers walked along the Oli river approximately 100 m apart

and parallel to a fourth on the river bank. 50 m around each observer was

considered the most effective sampling distance; adjacent observers were

in continual contact and probably all Guineafowl were flushed. Double

counting was minimised by observers' comparing notes on counts, flight

directions and times after the survey. Every 500 m, the driver of a

vehicle travelling parallel to the observers sounded its horn, helping the

observers to mark their locations and records on the field map. Four

strips 200-400 m wide and 133 km in total length were traversed during the

census (Fig. 1) . Four census surveys were carried out, in March and April

at the end of the dry season and in May and June, at the beginning of the

rains .

Estimates of home-range sizes were made where coveys were regularly

encountered. Coveys were regularly encountered in the same places, their

home-ranges, except at waterholes. Here different coveys evidently mixed,

separating when they flew off to near or distant home-ranges. Once in their

home-range, birds gave "barking" threats from the trees; if disturbed

further within their home-range area they moved from tree to tree rather

than fly away altogether from the vicinity.

Sightings were plotted accurately. In ten visits to the home area the

greatest distance between two consecutive sightings was taken as the

diameter of a circle approximating the home-range size (Fig. 2) .

38

J, S. O. Ayeni

MALIMBUS 5

Behaviour and Activities

Diurnal behaviour of wild birds was quantified during study from hides, and

supplemented by observations on captives. Daylight activities were timed

in sample periods. Diurnal behaviour of wild birds was quantified during

study from hides, and supplemented by observations on captives. Wild birds

were caught in foot snares and acclimatised to captivity by enclosing for

3 months in a grass-fenced chain-linked aviary 7.6 m square. After 3 months

the fence mats were gradually removed and the birds were by then accustomed

to people .

RESULTS

Population and Home-Range Area

The average density along Oli river was between 4.6 ± 4.3 and 9.1 ± 12.7

birds/km^ (Table 1) . Table 2 shows estimates of home-range sizes in eight

locations; two within the Park and six between the Park and Kainji Lake.

In primary woodland areas in the Park, home-ranges were 0.8-1. 8 km2 ; in

upland secondary woods outside the Park they were much larger: 7.6-21.2 km^ .

The widest home-range sizes were recorded in the vicinity of village sites

and farmlands. The overall mean home-range size was 8.8 ± 6.3 km2, which is

similar to that of N. m. meleagris in South Africa (Crowe 1978) . Guineafowl

with larger group sizes ranged wider than the smaller groups but proximity

of roosting sites to watering points appeared to influence the total area

covered by particular guineafowl groups.

Activity Patterns

During the beginning of the rainy season flocks broke up into small groups

and monogamous, territorial pairs. Territories and moderate overhead tree

cover and abundant ripe grass seeds. Nests construction and egg laying

were in July-August, and hatching in August -October. Several adults

accompanied chicks of mixed broods. Chicks hatched later than October died

from cold harmattan nights in November. 15 nests were found; they were

shallow and circular average, 7.5 cm deep and 32 cm diam, lined with grass

and leaf litter up to 2 cm deep. They were all imder, or concealed by,

bushes on well drained soil.

Guineafowl are active all day; they roost from about 1830 to 0500 h.

Main foods are grass seeds, fruits, and insects (Ayeni 1982) . Activity

classified as "sand pecking" include feeding on unidentifiable objects such

as small seeds, sand, and insects or plant parts (Ayeni, Olowo-Okorun and

Aire, 1982) ; the incidence of "sand pecking" and scratching through litter

was high (61.3% of the daytime). When birds fed on identifiable objects,

feeding on seeds of standing grass (19.6% of the time) came highest,

followed in decreasing order by feeding on Cyperus bulbs, leaves and fallen

fruits. At dawn birds fed first and drank later, as they moved from roosts

to the river. Feeding and drinking peaked at about 1000 h. Birds drank

but did not feed in the hot mid-day period, and drank finally at about

1600 h. Guineafowl fed while walking back to roost.

Records of 380 hours of observations on "other" daylight activities

of guineafowl consisted of: moving about (186), shade seeking (74), court-

ship and mounting attempts (53) , fighting (91) , and bathing or wallowing

1983

Biology of Numida meleagris

39

(123) , roosting (49) and vocalisation (308) . Calling and moving about

together accounted for over half 56% of the "other" activities.

Guineafowl are very mobile, investigating their habitat on foot,

although good fliers, they rarely fly far except when disturbed. Sand

bathing (13.90% of counted activities) and fighting are common. Sand

bathing, mostly around mid-day or in the hot afternoon, was accompanied by

preening and on cool days sometimes with sun basking. Fighting often

occurred mainly on the feeding grounds and on the way to and from the

roosting sites,- its intensity and frequency increased with the onset of

reproductive activity. Less common activities are shade seeking (8%) ,

courtship displays and mounting attempts (6%) and day roosting (5.5%).

Birds rested in the shade of tree canopies during most hot afternoons,

gular-fluttering, and with wings spread out and moved occasionally

evidently to ventilate the body.

GENERAL BEHAVIOUR IN CAPTIVITY

Aggressive Behaviour

Birds were most aggressive at pairing time at the beginning of the rains.

Among captive birds fighting led to death in many instances. When fighting,

neck 'hairs' are erected and the neck is stretched, wings arched, breast

and tail raised, and sparring birds approach each other in short stiff-

legged steps. Leaping from the ground, they fly against each other in mid

air, striking with the beak at the helmet or back. Submission consists of

stopping fighting, lowering the head, gasping and finally turning round and

presenting the tail to the attacker.

The dominant posture of attack is similar to that of social dominance

among males observed in the aviary, and that of a male with a sexually

responsive female. Differences in responses to the posture are that sub-

dominant males lower the head and turn round to present the tail. That

usually terminates further aggression, but the subdominant may also run

away. Probably it is such aggression which breaks up the covey into

smaller juvenile groups and ultimately into reproductive pairs. The

response of a female to the male's aggressive display was to crouch, when

the male grabbed her neck or back feathers, spread his wings and copulated.

Copulation was observed in captive birds only during the cooler hours of

the day near and after sunset.

Courtship feeding of female by male occurred during April-September .

At its peak the male's courtship consisted of lateral displays, wing-

whirring and mounting. Neck 'hairs' are erected, one wing arched and the

other extended as the bird approaches the female in short stiff-legged

steps, flapping the extended wing (Domm 1927) .

Egg Laying, Nesting and Care of Young

Guineafowl raised from the egg in captivity laid eggs at 28-32 weeks of age.

The first clutch were small, thin-shelled eggs. Egg laying in the wild was

in June-July after the peak flood levels of rivers. In the aviary, most

eggs were laid indiscriminately so that individual clutches were not

usually recognised," but in three nests clutches of 16, 17 and 20 eggs were

laid which were attributed to three known breeding pairs. Sometimes a pair

40

J. S. O. Ayeni

MALIMBUS 5

Range Area

2 0 2 4 6

b.hifaHhl — 1 t .-J km

2

1983

Biology of Numida meleagris

41

fO

0) 'O

M 0)

d, (—1

&

>■ a

4-> ^

•rH

W M

C 'tl

3 p

o m

tp +1

<4-1 Ü)

O SO;

• o

O V)

o m

C

H -H

td ^

4->

O

B O

^ B

O O O

m 00

m r\!

a

0)

ÏTI

O O B CN H rH

o

•H ^

-P P

aS (d

S P

> >

H H H a

> H H (d

> H 0)

> a

(Figures opposite)

Figure 1 Location of the Guineafowl study sites in relation to the National

Park and the Kainji Lake

Figure 2 Home range sizes of guineafowl coveys in relation to the drainage

systems in Kainji Basin Area

42

J. S. O. Ayeni

MALIMBUS 5

incubated their clutch together sitting pressed side by side; also two

females were seen incubating similarly. In one clutch all 20 eggs hatched

on the 27th day.

Vocalisation

Guineafowl are noisy, with often repeated strident calls, differing

sexually. From about 15 weeks of age females have a disyllabic contact

call "put-rock, put-rock" and males have a monosyllabic squawk "chick, oo" .

When excited, females have a similar call, faster and harsher: "cher,

cheering" . Males never make the "put-rock" call.

The alarm is a hard cackling, rapidly stuttered "ke kkekkek" . The

roosting call is "chick, oo" but in the breeding season there is also a

long monotonous "kek-kek-kek" variation at moonlight, the last two

syllables being advertisement calls.

A soft, gentle "chio" is given by a female feeding her young, and when

a rich source of food is discovered; it is also used as an adult and

parent-young contact call. The noise of wing flapping when taking flight

signals danger.

ACKNOWLE DGEMENTS

I am grateful for the support of the Director, Kainji Lake Research

Institute, in carrying out this research. Dr S.S. Ajayi, Dept of Fisheries

and Wildlife Management, and Dr 0,0. Tewe, Dept of Animal Science, both

University of Ibadan, supervised the research. Dr C.H, Fry, Dept of

Zoology, University of Aberdeen, painstakingly edited the unreferred copy

of this manuscript. I am most grateful for all these kind assistances.

SUMÎ4ARY

Observations were made on population, distribution, and home-range sizes of

Helmet Guineafowl Numida meleagris in natural habitats in Kainji Lake Basin,

Nigeria. Their average density in Kainji Lake National Park is 4.6-9. 1 km^ .

Home-range size is 0.8-1. 8 km^ ; near farms and villages outside the Park

it varies from 7.6 to 21.2 km^ ,

Foraging activities during daylight hours (0600-1800 h) consisted of

pecking unidentified objects (46,5% of time) scratching soil litter (14.8%),

feeding on grass seeds (19.5%), vegetable matter (3.9%), fallen fruits

(3.3%), and other foods (11.6%). Other daytime activities were calls

(34.8% of time), locomotion (21.4%), and roosting (5.5%). Since more than

one activity could take place together the total frequencies exceed 100% of

the time .

The Guineafowl is monogamous. Pairing takes place with the early rains

April-May. Courtship feeding of female by male occurs (observed in captivity

and in the wild) . The clutch is 15-17 eggs and hatches on the 27th day.

Normally egg laying is restricted to the rainy season but in captivity it is

extended into the dry season. Fertility and hatching rates are lower in

captivity than in the wild.

1983

Biology of Numida meleagris

43

REFERENCES

AYENI, J.S.O. (1979) A guineafowl research prograinme in Nigeria. Malimbus

It 32-5

AYENI, J.S.O. (1981) The biology of helmet guineafowl {Numida meleagris

galeata Pallas) in Nigeria. World Pheasant Assoc, J. 6: 31-39

AYENI, J.S.O. (in press) The biology and utilization of helmeted guineafowl

{Numida meleagris galeata Pallas) in Nigeria II. Food of helmeted

guineafowl in Kainji Lake Basin Area of Nigeria. Afr. J. Ecol.

AYENI, J.S.O., OLOWO-OKORUN, M.O. & AIRE, T.A, (in press) The biology and

utilization of helmet guineafowl {Numida meleagris galeata Pallas) in

Nigeria. III. Gizzard weights and contents. Afr. J. Ecol.

CROWE, T.M. (1978) The evolution and ecology of guineafowl (Galliformes ,

Phasianidae, Numidinae) . Ph . D. Thesis^ University of Cape Town

DOMM, L.V. (1927) New experiments on ovariotomy and the problem of sex

inversion in the fowl. J. Expt. Zool , 48: 31-171

Dr J.S.O. Ayeni , Kainji Lake Research Institute, P.M.B, 666,

New-Bussa, Kwara State, Nigeria

Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis, Guinee . Photo: D. Richards

44

MALIMBUS 5

ROLLERS jCORACIAS) AS KLEPTQPARASITES - In a recent study of the ecology of

wheatears Oenanthe spp. in Senegal, we noted aggressive interactions between

them and other insectivorous species, including Abyssinian Rollers Coracias

abyssinica .

On 10 January 1982 an Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina was

hunting flying insects by sallying from perches 3-5 m high on thorn trees

Balanites aegyptiaca. A roller flew to a nearby tree and also commenced

sallying for aerial prey; after a few minutes it flew at and displaced the

wheatear, which flew to a tree 60 m away. This observation suggests

competition for foraging space between the species.

On 19 January 1982 a Common Wheatear O. oenanthe, which held a territory

adjacent to that of the Isabelline Wheatear above, was on the ground, in the

shade of a 0.5 m high bush, mandibulating food, probably a caterpillar,

shaking and banging it on the ground for 2 min, when an Abyssinian Roller

flew past 5 m overhead. The roller returned and perched on the bush above

the wheatear, then flew down, seized the wheatear: s prey and flew off with

it. After a moment the wheatear flew up onto the bush, then resumed hunting.

This observation shows that rollers may occasionally kleptoparasitise other

birds .

Kleptoparasitism has not been reported previously for rollers (Brockmann

& Barnard Anim. Behav. 27, 1979, 487-514) although they are pugnacious and

opportunistic, characteristics which favour the development of kleptopara-

sitism (Brockmann & Barnard loc. cit., A. Tye mss). Brockmann & Barnard

listed six kinds of interspecific association which might lead to klepto-

parasitism, namely predator -prey, mobbing, feeding in mixed-species flocks,

nesting in mixed colonies, scavenging for scraps, faeces or parasites, and

specialised feeding associations such as 'beating'. None of these could

explain kleptoparasitism between rollers and wheatears; although Coracias

rollers may occasionally eat nestlings (Meinertzhagen Pirates and Predators

1959, Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh) , they are not known as predators of healthy,

adult birds. We suggest a seventh origin for kleptoparasitism, namely

interspecific competition. Wheatears feed mainly on terrestrial or aerial

invertebrates (L. Cornwallis unpubl . D.Phil. thesis 1975 Univ. of Oxford,

A. Tye unpubl. Ph.D. thesis 1982 Univ. of Cambridge), up to the size of a

4 cm grasshopper, and at the upper end of their prey size range they overlap

with rollers (pers. obs.). More importantly, each species' hunting

activities might disturb the active prey of the other, resulting in a need

for isolation during hunting and in competition for foraging space (A. Tye

mss) . Rollers also overlap in diet and hunting technique with shrikes

{Lanius spp.), and shrikes may attack and kleptoparasitise rollers (Moreau

& Moreau Ibis (14)5, 1941, 614-615).

This slender evidence suggests that competition between Coracias

rollers and wheatears may occur and that kleptoparasitism by rollers on

wheatears has developed from competitive interactions.

We thank G.J. Morel and M.-Y. Morel for their kind help during our work

in Senegal. Financial assistance was provided by the Frank M. Chapman

Memorial Fund.

Alan Tye and Hilary Tye

Dept, of Zoology, Fourah Bay College, Univ. of Sierra Leone, Freetown

1983

45

BIRD SPECIES NUMBERS IN CAMEROON VEGETATION DISTRICTS

by M. Louette

Received 8 October 1982

Revised 1 November 1982

A peculiarity of West Africa is its relatively simple pattern of

parallel vegetation belts between the Equator and the Sahara, It gives an

opportunity to compare the bird species richness of contiguous vegetation

belts in a relatively restricted area, Cameroon is especially well suited

for this exercise f and interesting because of its position along and just

east of the zoogeographical boiindary, running from Mount Cameroon to Lake

Chad.

METHODS

Originally (Louette 1981) I divided Cameroon into nine vegetation districts,

according to the authoritative study of Letouzey (1968) . For the present

purpose they have been regrouped into five (Fig. 1, Roman numerals) ,

because the three original northern vegetation districts were found to be

virtually identical in breeding bird composition and because bird species

occurring in mangrove cannot easily be separated from those in evergreen

forest. The montane district, reflecting "horizontal" diversity only, has

been omitted. Using data from my recent Cameroon check-list (Louette, op.

cit.) I I compare the number of proven and probable breeding bird species in

each taxonomic-ecological group {sensu Moreau 1966) along a hypothetical

transect and list them by families (see Table 1). Water birds (Moreau's

group A) are excluded, and the data for Hirundinidae are insufficient. For

certain districts numbers are probably underestimated, especially forest/

savanna mosaic (II) ( furthemore , district II is composed of a mixture of

districts I and III). The numbers in Table 1 refer to "biological" species;

i.e. if, in a particular district, two closely related forms occur allo-

patrically, only one is scored (most often in district I) .

DISCUSSION

Two facts catch the eye upon consideration of the Table. First, grand

totals show that each savanna district (II to V) has approximately the same

number of species (196-212) , but forest has far more species (320) . It is

due mainly to the numbers of passerines (group E) with 66-80% more species

in forest than in savanna. Second, many families show a steady decrease in

species nunobers from forest to less humid belts, especially well-marked in

fruiteaters (Musophagidae, Bucerotidae, Capitonidae) and insect-eaters

(Cuculidae, Apodidae, Campephagidae , Muscicapinae) and most spectacularly

in Pycnonotidae and Nectariniidae , The trend is apparent also in Strigidae,

Indicatoridae, Picidae, Timaliinae and Estrildidae.

The cause is doubtless ecological, it being widely accepted that there

are more niches in evergreen forest than in savanna. Certainly fruit and

46

M. Louette

MALIMBUS 5

Inundation area

Sahel

Benue Plain

Adamawa Plateau

Rainforest

II

Figure 1 Map of Cameroon showing vegetation districts

1983

Birds in Cameroon Vegetation Districts

47

Table 1 Nximbers of species in five Cameroon districts

(Taxonomic-ecological Groups B-E after Moreau, 1966. Hirundinidae omitted.)

GROUP - Family DISTRICTS (see Figure 1) Remarks

cont . /

48

M. Louette

MALIMBUS 5

/* Turdinae

Timaliinae

Picathartinae

Sylviinae (excl. Cisticola)

Cisticola

Hyliaf Pholidornis

\ Muscicapinae

Remizidae

Paridae

Certhiidae

Nectariniidae

Zosteropidae

Enxberizidae

Fringillidae

Estrildidae

I Ploceidae (excl. Vidua)

\ Vidua

Sturnidae

Oriolidae

Dicruridae

Corvidae

15

3

1

23

3

2

28

1

0

17

1

0

17

15

1

4

2

3

1

6

3

O

11

7

O

11

1*

2

0

12

1

2

1

11

12

1

4

3

2

1

10

3

O

9

8

0

12

1*

2

1

7

1

3

16

12

3

6

1

7

2

O

7

8

0

9

1

5

1

3

13

4

6

1

2

8

1

O

10

8

0

7

1

O

0

5

1

3

2

9

15

5

8

1

2

*or O?

Onycognathus morio

excluded

Total

189 114 114 105 105

Grand total

320 212 212 196 208

nectar resources are most diverse in forest. Some families which favour

open habitats decrease from forest (I) to savanna (V) : Aegypiinae,

Falconidae, ground birds (group C) , Coraciidae, Meropidae, and some

passerines (Alaudidae, Cisticola, Eraberizidae, Vidua, Sturnidae) . Others

(e.g. Phasianidae, Phoeniculidae, Ploceidae), remain virtually constant in

number of species throughout the transect. In "other Accipitridae" , Coliidae

and Trogonidae, the number of species is high at both extremes of the tran-

sect and lower in between; but the reason is not apparent. It could be

ecological or zoogeographical .

Another example with few mesic-savanna species is the Columbidae.

Harrison (1967) considered them an exemplar of repeated and overlapping

waves of dispersal, failing to colonise new areas consistently or to occupy

all available niches. If that is accepted, it seems that "philopatry" is a

factor in the genesis of distribution patterns.

When examining each of the five districts in Cameroon, the following

must be emphasized. Forest (district I) contains an ancient avifaunal

component with affinities in the Oriental region, something that the

savanna lacks (see Snow 1980) ; and lowland Cameroon forest has more species

than Upper Guinea forest. Diamond & Hamilton (1980) and Crowe & Crowe (in

press) suggest that this area contained a forest refugium during the

Quaternary. Probably, in a dry period. Mount Cameroon functioned as a

barrier to the westward spread of Congo forest species. District II suffers

from a lack of information and, as mentioned, is a mosaic of its neighbour-

ing districts. District III (the "Ubangi-Uele savanna district" of Chapin,

1932) has some endemics, certainly more than the Upper Guinea savanna west

of Cameroon. Fry (1980) has mentioned that there are few endemics west of

23°E in the Isoberlinia belt (our district IV) , and this one seems

particularly unsaturated as to bird species. To the contrary district V,

the Acacia belt, has a wealth of niches, at first side unsuspected (see

Morel & Morel, 1980) , accounting for a relatively rich avifauna of 12

species more than district IV.

1983

Birds in Cameroon Vegetation Districts

49

In conclusion, if western Africa has fewer species than expected, it

is for zoogeographical reasons, but additionally for ecological reasons in

belts III and decidedly in IV. I propose that the relatively simple

structure of this part of the continent, with vegetation belts running

parallel to each other, diminishes the number of niches available as a

whole and therefore accounts for the lower number of species present.

SUMMARY

Cameroon forest has 320 breeding species, and each of four savanna districts,

about 200 species. For ecological reasons, several bird families steadily

increase in species from south to north, but frugivorous (touracos, barbets,

bulbuls) and some insectivores decrease. Probably for zoogeographical

reasons, some families are more poorly represented in mesic savannas than

in either arid savanna or in rain forest.

RESUME

La forêt du Cameroun possède 320 espèces nicheuses et les 4 districts de

savane à près 200 espèces chacun. Certaines familles d'oiseaux augmentent

régulièrement en espèces du sud vers le nord, mais les frugivores (touracos,

barbus, bulbuls) et certains insectivores diminuent, pour des raisons écolo-

giques; d'autres familles sont moins représentées en savane humide qu'en

savane sèche ou en forêt sempervi rente, ceci probablement pour des raisons

zoogéographiques .

REFERENCES

CHAPIN, J. P. (1932) The Birds of the Belgian Congo. Part I. Bull. Am. Mus.

Nat. Hist. 65: 1-756

CROWE, T.M. & CROWE, A. A- (in press) Pattern of distribution, diversity and

endemism in Afrotropical birds. J. Zool . (London)

DIAMOND, A.W. & HAMILTON, A.C. (1980) The distribution of forest passerine

birds and Quaternary climatic change in tropical Africa. J. Zool.

(London) 191: 379-402

FRY, C.H. (1980) An analysis of the avifauna of African northern tropical

woodlands. Proc . IV. Pan. Afr. orn. Congr . : 77-88

HARRISON, C.J.O. (1967) Apparent zoogeographical dispersal patterns in two

avian families. Bull. Br . Orn. Cl. 87: 49-56, 63-72

LETOUZEY, R. (1968) Etude Phytogeographigue du Cameroun . Encyclopédie

Biologique (Paris) 69: 1-511

LOUETTE, M. (1981) The Birds of Cameroon . An annotated check-list .

Verhandelingen Koninklijke Academie Brussel (Kl. Wet.) 43 (163): 1-295

MOREAU, R.E. (1966) The Bird Faunas of Africa and its Islands. New York &

London: Academic Press

MOREL, G.J. & MOREL, M.Y. (1980) Structure of an arid tropical bird community.

Proc. IV. Pan-Afr. orn. Congr . t 125-133

SNOW, D.W. (1980) The affinities of African Non-Passerine Birds to the

Oriental and Palaearctic avifaunas. Proc. IV. Pan-Afr. orn. Congr.:

71-76

M. Louette , Koninklijk Museum voor Midden-Afrika , 1980 Tervuren , Belgium

50

MALIMBUS 5

NEST PREDATION BY THE PIED CROW CORVUS ALBUS - The term "nest predation" is

normally used, not literally, but to mean predation of nest contents. The

Pied Crow Corvus albus is known as a nest predator in this sense (e.g.

Bannerman 1930-1951) , but few birds actually take the whole nest as well as

its contents. Hence the following observation may be of interest.

On 3 November 1982, near Freetown, Sierra Leone, a pair of Pied Crows

was seen clinging to the outer branches of a tree {Cassia sp . ) in which

several Bronze Mannikin Lonchura cucullata pairs were nesting. The crows

spent two minutes flapping from twig to twig, hanging onto twigs and leaves

with beak and feet. The reason for this behaviour was obscure, until one

of the pair was seen tugging at a Bronze Mannikin nest, which it eventually

detached. It then flew away with the nest held in its bill. T.ie other bird

also succeeded in detaching a nest and flew away with it, in the same

manne r .

Presumably, the crows were taking the nests for the eggs or young

within but they flew out of sight before this could be ascertained. They

could conceivably have taken the nests as lining material for their own

nests, but this would seem unlikely in view of the effort and difficulty

involved, and this observation falls outside the normal breeding season of

the species in Sierra Leone.

Mannikins' nests are often situated in places relatively inaccessible

to an animal the size of a Pied Crow, and the nest has only a small opening.

Presumably, the easiest way for a Pied Crow to deal with such a nest is to

detach the whole thing and extract the contents by destroying the nest in

a more convenient place than the nest-site .

Alan Tye

Dept, of Zoology, Fourah Bay College, Univ. of Sierra Leone, Freetown

1983

51

COMPETITION FOR NECTAR BETWEEN SUNBIRDS AND BUTTERFLIES

by H.D.V. Prendergast

Received 18 January 1983

INTRODUCTION

Whilst nectar-feeding birds have been the subject of many recent studies on

foraging behaviour, energetics, territoriality and competition, little has

been written about their interaction with nectar-feeding insects.

Miller (1967, 1969) defined two mechanisms of competition. One of

them, 'interference' competition, was suggested by Primack & Howe (1975) as

the means by which resource partitioning occurred at the flowering shriib

Stachytarpheta jamaicensis ; they observed how a territorial Rufous-tailed

Hummingbird Amazilia tzacatl repeatedly chased away skipper butterflies

(Hesperiidae) from the middle and upper parts of the bush. On removal of

the bird, the butterflies almost immediately started to forage on those

parts of the shrub from which they had previously been excluded.

During a short study of nectar-feeders at Lamto, (05°02'W, 06°13'N),

Ivory Coast in July-August 1981, I concluded that the other form of

competition, 'exploitative', can explain the foraging patterns of sunbirds

and butterflies .

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was carried out on a bush of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis , a pantropical

ornamental shrub that produces abundant nectar. Its large and showy flowers

open in the morning and wilt and fall to the groiand during the following

night. The study bush on average produced 24 flowers a day of two colours,

red and pink (probably the result of a graft) . The proportions of these

colours changed from day to day but the overall average over three weeks

was 64% red and 36% pink. I analysed nectar from flowers each colour to

see if there were differences in sugar and amino-acid contents (using thin-

layer and paper chromatography and the histidine method of Baker & Baker

(1973) respectively) .

The bush was watched from a distance of 6 m, far enough away not to

scare the sunbirds and yet sufficiently close not to overlook butterfly

visits. It lay within the territory of a pair of Olive-bellied Sunbirds

Nectarinia chloropygia and was visited by a variety of butterflies of which

the most frequent were Nepheronia thalassina and N . pharis (Pieridae) ,

Borho sp. (Hesperiidae) and Papilio dardanus and P. fourcas (Papilionidae) .

For the sunbirds all easily-visible flowers on the bush were watched

over a different five day period. In contrast to the butterflies, sunbirds

approached the flowers from the rear and inserted the bill between the

calyx and corolla, where nectar accumulated. Each probe for nectar

constituted a visit. The sex of the bird and the numbers and colours of

52

H.D.V. Prendergast

MALIMBUS 5

the flowers it visited were noted.

For butterflies it was not possible to watch with accuracy more than

6 or 7 flowers a day. These were numbered, and observations on the times

and durations of visits by the various species were noted on five full

days (0800-1700 h) and one half day.

RESULTS

Sunbirds 73 red and 40 pink flowers were watched. Sunbirds made 464

visits to red and 459 visits to pink flowers, thereby showing strong

preference for the latter, greater in the female (x^ = 62.84; p = < 0.001)

than in the male (x2 = 26.02; p < 0.001) (Table 1) .

Butterflies 1097 visits were made to the 29 red and 8 pink flowers that

were individually marked. 1086 (99%) of these were to the red flowers and

only 11 were to the pink ones. Nepheronia thalassina and Borbo sp. made

65.7% and 17.6% respectively of all butterfly visits (Table 2) .

Nectar Similar proportions of fructose, glucose and sucrose sugars were

found in each colour phase; sucrose levels were low. Qualitative assess-

ments of amino-acid contents were also similar.

Table 1 Sunbird visits to Hibiscus flowers

40 Pink flowers

x2 p

No. av. /flower

234 5.85 26.02 <0.001

225 5.6 62.84 <0.001

Table 2 Butterfly visits to Hibiscus flowers

Number of visits

1983

Sxinbird Competition for Nectar

53

DISCUSSION

Why butterflies virtually ignored pink flowers is not relevant here; what

is of interest is that the sunbirds significantly preferred pink to red

ones. Since sugar and amino-acid levels were the same in flowers of each

colour, no nutritional benefit would accrue to sunbirds eating 'pink'

nectar preferentially. I hypothesise that they sought out pink blossoms

because of the larger amounts of nectar that they contained. The effect of

the unexplained preference by several species of butterflies for red flowers

was thus to inhibit sunbirds' exploitation of 'red' nectar. This hypo-

thesis could be tested by preventing butterflies' access to red flowers,

the prediction being that the sunbirds would quickly learn to exploit 'red'

and 'pink* nectar equally.

SUMMARY

Feeding by a pair of sunbirds Nectarinia chloropygia and by butterflies was

observed on an Hibiscus rosa-sinensis bush having flowers of two colours.

Birds preferred pink flowers, and butterflies red. It is suggested that

the preference of the birds for the pink flowers was the result of

competitive exploitation by the butterflies.

REFERENCES

BAKER, H.G. & BAKER, I. (1973) Some anthecological aspects of the evolution

of nectar-producing flowers, especially amino-acid production in

nectar. In V.H. Heywood (ed.) . Taxonomy and Ecology. Systematics

Association Special Volume No. 5

MILLER, R.S. (1967) Pattern and process in competition. Adv. Ecol. Res. 4:

1-74

MILLER, R.S. (1969) Competition and species diversity. Brookhaven Symposia

on Biology 22: 63-70

PRIMACK, R.B. & HOWE, H.F. (1975) Interference competition between a

hummingbird {Amazilia tzacatl) and skipper butterflies (Hesperiidae) .

Biotropica 7: 55-58

H.D.V. Prendergastj, Taxonomy Unit, Research School of Biological

Sciences, Australian National University , Box 475 P.O., Canberra,

A.C.T. 2601, Australia

54

MALIMBUS 5

POSSIBLE THRUSH 'ANVILS' IN UPPER VOLTA - In 'A New Dictionary of Birds'

(Landsborough Thomson 1964) the Song Thrush Turdus philomelos and a bower

bird Scenopoeetes dentirostris are recorded as using anvils and Boswall

{Avicult. Mag., 1977, 83: 88-97) has recently summarized the information

relating to several other species with the same habit. In addition

Richards (Bird Study, 1976, 24: 53-54) implied that Redwings Turdus iliacus

use anvils and he has confirmed that he twice witnessed a Redwing breaking

a shell on an anvil, observations which could have related to the same

bird (A. J. Richards pers. comm,); Mackworth-Praed & Grant (1973),

referring to Turdus olivaceous {=pelios) write, "habits very much those of

the palaearctic Thrushes including that of cracking snails against a

stone" . In this note we describe evidence which we think supports

Mackworth-Praed & Grant's claim about T. polios.

On 11 December 1974 in a coppiced Neem Azadirachta indica thicket at

Ouagadougou, Upper Volta, BW found an 'anvil' surrounded by the broken

shells of a species of operculate gastropod snail. The anvil consisted of

two small late rite stones lying on the baked mud floor of the thicket. The

whole area had clearly been underwater during the wet season ( July-October) ,

A watch was kept for several hours on the following day, but it seemed most

likely from the appearance of the shells that the anvil was no longer in

use. Another accumulation of broken shells of the same type was found

about a metre from the anvil, but these shells were without an anvil stone.

A week later a large laterite stone was found with similar shell fragments.

However, in this case the shell debris was mostly stuck in the baked mud

and largely covered by dead leaves. All the shell fragments seemed to

belong to an aquatic gastropod of the genus Pila.

Extensive flooding occurred in the same area on 26 July 1975. On 3

August we found another accumulation of recently broken snail shells beside

a laterite stone, but later on the same day we observed a small boy breaking

Pila shells on just such a stone anvil. He was using the soft parts to

bait fishing hooks on a long-line. We decided that such human activity

might have been responsible for our earlier observations. However, on 14

September 1975, near the Neem thicket, we found a single anvil with many

fresh looking snail shells. This anvil was located beneath a thorny

creeper in a position which precluded the possibility that even a small

child could have used it. About two hours were spent watching this anvil

on 14 and 17 September but no birds were seen using it.

4

Two disused anvils were found in November 1977 after a season of

heavy flooding. Because of its position one of these could not have been

the result of human activity. No anvils were found in 1976 and 1979

during several searches of the same area.

It seems that in seasons when the adjacent swamp flooded, aquatic

snails of the genus Pila were swept into the surrounding areas becoming

stranded as the flood-water receded. Many of these snails, which were

about 30 mm in diameter, and had relatively thick shells, were gathered up

by the local people and used as bait for fishing hooks and as human food.

It seems that a few birds were also exploiting this seasonal and erratic,

but sometimes abundant, food supply.

Most of the broken shells found were split into very small fragments

and quite unlike the substantial remains of the much thinner-shelled Cepea

nemoralis left by the Song Thrush. It is, nevertheless, assumed that the

Kurrichane Thrush T. pelios, a common bird in the vicinity, was the bird

1983

55

responsible for the Ouagadougou anvils. However^ the possibility that some

other species of bird or small mammal was involved cannot be precluded.

Acknowledgements We are grateful to Dr A.J. Richards for information

about Redwings using anvils, and to Dr R.A. Cheke for commenting on an

earlier draft of this note.

J. Frank Walsh and B. Walsh

80 Arundel Road, Lytham St. Annes , Lancs., FY8 IBM, England

BREEDING OF BLACK-HEADED BEE-EATER IN ZAIRE - In their recent paper on

Merops brewer!, Dyer, Fry & Hendrick (1982, Malimbus 4: 43-45) state that

"no nest has previously been reported, nor field notes pxiblished ether

than by Chapin (1939)". Obviously the paper by Schouteden (1962, Doc. Zool.

3: 60) has been overlooked, wherein he reported on several nests discovered

at Bwamanda (03°10' N-19° 15 ' E) , Zaire, by V. Maes. In view of the import-

ance of that discovery we think it appropriate to reproduce the field notes

here once again, in full, especially since Schouteden slightly misinterpret-

ed them. A few more recent data are added.

The Black-Headed Bee-eater M. (Meropogon) brewer! is not very rare in

the Ubangi area. Normally it is found quite close to rivers and can be

observed in gallery forest. On 22 March 1962 a nest was detected when a

bird flew up from the ground some 30 m from the border of gallery forest

along Zingo River. The burrow was in flat sandy soil, among young Imperata

cyl!ndr!ca grass; it was 7 cm diam. and 130 cm long, curving towards the

nest chamber, the floor of which was 25-30 cm below ground level. The nest

contained three white eggs measuring 24.8 x 22.2, 24.9 x 22.3 and 25.5 x

22.5 mm. On 25 March 1962 several other nests were discovered along the

river 500 m from the first, in recently burnt grassland with "hi donzale"

(= Tr!chopteryx?) grass. Two were opened on 26 March. One burrow entrance

was 60-75 cm high in a 1.5 m termite mound; the tunnel was 160 cm long and

the floor of the nest chamber 50 cm lower than the nest entrance. In the

burrow was a dead half grown youngster and in the nest chamber two living

full grown ones on a layer of insect debris 3 cm thick (including wings of

wasps and small red and green beetles) . The second was in level ground

between grass tussocks; the tunnel was 150 cm long, curved, with the nest

chamber floor 50 cm below ground level. It contained one full grown young-

ster (others removed by Maes' assistant?), also on a thick layer of insect

remains .

Three more nests were not seen by Maes himself. On 13 April 1962 a

half grown bird from a nest with three young was presented to him (the nest

said to be situated in level grassland near River Bombe) ; on 2 March 1974

an adult was caught on a clutch of two eggs in the same area (the nest said

to be situated in an old stone quarry) ; and on 12 March 1974 a half grown

nestling was given to Maes .

Korte W!nkelstraat 1, 2000 Antwerpen, Belg!um

V. Maes

Kon!nkl!jk Museum voor M!dden-Afr!ka, 1980 Tervuren , Belgium

M. Louette

56

MALIMBUS 5

NEW RECORDS FOR THE LAMTO REGION y IVORY COAST - The avifauna of the region

of the Station d'Ecologie Tropicale de Lamto (05°02'W, 06°13'N), Ivory Coast,

has been listed by Thiollay {Ann. Univ. Abidjan, Sêr . E, Ecologie 4, 1971:

5-132) . During visits there in July-September 1981 and 1982 I saw two

species new to the region. An Openbill Anastomus lamelligerus was seen on

29 August 1982 circling over the Station with a White-necked Stork Ciconia

episcopus (itself usually just a casual visitor from October to April) .

In Ivory Coast the Openbill is described by Brunei & Thiollay {Alauda 37,

1969: 230-254) as "très rare, Dans l'extrême Nord en mai- juin".

On 8 August 1981 I saw a single Bare-headed Rock-fowl Picathartes

gyimocephalus in riverine forest some 300 m from the Station and in almost

exactly the same place again on 1 September 1982 . My impression was of a

yellow- and bald-headed, scrawny-necked, long-legged bird somewhat

recalling a Magpie Pica pica, essentially black above and white below and

with a deep and stout rather crow-like bill. On seeing me the bird on

each occasion showed surprising agility as it disappeared through the

undergrowth by a combination of hopping along the ground and from one low

branch to another. On the first occasion I disturbed it as it was pecking

on the ground, there lightly covered with leaf-litter. No calls were heard.

For the country as a whole Brunei & Thiollay {Alauda 37, 1969: 315-337) note

only "une petite colonie dans le biotope caractéristique de l'espèce au pied

du Mont Nimba: amoncellement de gros rochers moussus formant des auvents en

sous-bois de forêt primaire". At Lamto such habitat does not exist.

Whether each bird (if two individuals) was nevertheless breeding or whether

a seasonal migrant to Lamto, can only be speculated upon (Nimba is some

300 kms away) . The secretive nature of the species is evinced by the fact

that, in a place well crossed by paths and very frequently visited, there

were no further encounters.

H.D.V. Prendergast

Taxonomy Unit, Research School of Biological Sciences , Australian National

University, Box 475 P,0., Canberra, A.C.T, 2601 Australia

ON NESTING OF THE LAVENDER FIRE-FINCH - The nest of the Lavender Fire-finch

Estrilda caerulescens does not seem to have been described. There are

several reports from The Gambia of it v/ith nesting material in August and

September, {Notes on the Birds of The Gambia, D. Bray, J. Mullholland &

A. Vittery, 1966, with additions by O. Andrews & T.V. Sims, 1969, Govt.

Printer, Bathurst) and also August 1980 at Fajara (personal record) . In

August 1981 I found five nests being built in our garden at Fajara, three

in citrus trees and two in ornamental shrubs. They were untidy woven domes

20 cms in diameter, built in forks of the trees, constructed of seeding

heads of grasses. The entrance, on one side, was a spout 5 cms long and

3.5 cms in diameter, pointing downward.

Three birds collected grasses from the same place, each flew off to

add them to individual nests. Building continued throughout August. One

nest was destroyed in a heavy rainstorm and the other four were abandoned

and derelict by mid-September. There was no evidence of breeding in any of

the nests. I have a record of a party of E. caerulescens roosting in an

old sunbird's nest six weeks later. In August 1982 three nests (one

uncompleted) were built in the same garden but again there was no evidence

of breeding. (I am indebted to Mr Steve Tulloch for this record.) Birds

were recorded in parties of 6 or 8 at Fajara throughout the year, but I

have no record of any bird resembling a fledgling amongst them.

Amber ley Moore

M.R.C., Box 273, Banjul, The Gambia

1983

57

CENTRALE ORNITHOLOGIQUE MAROCAINE

L'Institut Scientifique de Rabat (Université Mohamed V) regroupe les

activités ornithologiques marocaines depuis sa création en 1920. Il est le

siège de la Centrale ornithologique marocaine, à laquelle collaborent tous

les naturalistes résidant dans le pays. Cette Centrale pioblie un compte-

rendu annuel, et lance une enquête pour réaliser d'ici à 5 ans l'Atlas des

oiseaux nicheurs du Maroc. Nous vous serions reconnaisant de nous faire

parvenir toute information inédite, ou de prendre contact avec nous dans le

cas d'un projet de voyage dans le pays. Toute collaboration sera bien sûr

mentionnée à sa juste place. Adressez vos informations ou vos demandes de

renseignements à; Michel Thévenot et Patrick Bergier, Institut Scientifique,

Centrale ornithologique, B. B. 703, RABAT- Agdal (MAROC) .

MOROCCAN ORNITHOLOGICAL ATLAS

Since its creation in 1920, the Institut Scientifique from Rabat (Mohamed V

University) collects all ornithological observations. It has an

Ornithological Committee, which publishes an annual report with the full

support and assistance of all resident ornithologists. It launches this

year an inquiry about a five years Atlas project on the breeding birds in

Morocco. Any unpublished records from visiting birdwatchers in Morocco

should be sent for inclusion in the yearly report or in the Atlas. All

contributions will be acknowledged by Michel Thévenot et Patrick Bergier,

Institut Scientifique, Centrale ornithologique, B. P. 703, RABAT -Agdal

(MOROCCO) .

Standard-winged Nightjar Macrodipteryx longipennis j, Guinee .

Photo: D. Richards

58

MALIMBUS 5

6TH PAN- AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL CONGRESS, 1984

At the end of the 5 PAOC in Malawi, a 3-man committee comprising Don

Turner, Gerard Morel and Ken Newman was charged with the responsibility of

convening the 6 PAOC in 1984. Three venues were formally proposed (Kenya,

Namibia and Zimbabwe) , and were accepted in that order of preference by

those attending the Malawi meeting.

Since that Congress in August 1980, the committee has endeavoured to

finalise a venue for the 6 PAOC, but it is with much regret that we have to

announce that at this stage all three proposed venues appear doubtful

starters: -

- KENYA will NOT now accept South African passport holders.

- NAMIBIA is not now a popular choice among many European delegates

with its political status and future still so uncertain.

- ZIMBABWE has gone through a series of internal difficulties, and

recently the OAZ have formally declined to host such a congress.

They also feel they cannot guarantee that South African passport

holders will be permitted to enter the country.

During the past few months we have been exploring alternative ideas

for a congress venue. Swaziland was considered, but in view of the

extremely high cost of the Holiday Inn complex outside of the capital, plus

it completely lacking the atmosphere suitable for such a congress, this we

feel can no longer be considered. With a decision having to be made within

the next few months, and with us having to find a venue that will accept ALL

passport holders, irrespective of their nationality we appear to be faced

with the following alternatives: -

- Capetown, or a similar venue within South Africa.

- Mauritius.

- A cruise vessel somewhere in African waters (if available) .

- Scrapping the whole idea of future Pan-African Ornithological

Congresses .

In order to guage public opinion, this is being circulated to all

participants of the previous two congresses, together with circulation in a

number of ornithological journals and publications. Would all persons

showing an interest in attending a 6 PAOC, please write immediately, air-

mail, to D.A. Turner, P.O. Box 48019, Nairobi, Kenya to say which of the

above options would be your first and your second choice. ‘

D.A. Turner, G.J. Morel and K.W. Newman

CODED BIBLIOGRAPHY OF AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGY 1982

List of 200 titles now available, unbound, gratis to individual members of

WAOS/SOOA upon application and at the following rates to corporate members

and non-members: £1.00 in U.K., £2.00 overseas (surface mail) and £2.50

overseas (air mail) .

Orders to C.H. Fry, Zoology Department, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen

AB9 2TN, Scotland, U.K. Orders will be accepted if AND ONLY IF accompanied

by self-addressed envelope of size to accommodate this issue of Malimbus

and (except individual members) either cash sterling or cheque drawn on

U.K. bank or cheque drawn on overseas bank adding £1.00 to above prices

(for U.K. bank charges).

1983

59

WEST AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

SOCIETE D'ORNITHOLOGIE DE L'OUEST AFRICAIN

REVENUE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 1982

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31st DECEMBER 1982

Assets

Bank balance in U.K.

Liabilities

Subscriptions received in advance

Provision for Bibliography

£319

188

£ 668

£ 130

350

£ 668

Accumulated Funds

Balance at 1st January 1982

Deficit for year

131

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NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS

Malimbus piiblishes papers, short notes, reviews, letters and illustrative

material. Contributions should be typed on one side of the paper with double

spacing and wide margins. Wherever possible papers first should have been

submitted to at least one ornithologist or biologist for critical scrutiny.

Textual matter will be retyped for offset printing, but FIGURES should be

prepared as for final reproduction, allowing for 20 percent reduction, using

^Indian ink on good quality white paper, and Letraset and Letratone lettering

and shading (or equivalent) as appropriate.

CONVENTIONS regarding tabular material, dates, numbers, metric values,

references etc. should be carefully adhered to and can be sought in this and

recent issues. Articles containing lengthy SPECIES-LISTS should be of

tabular format (eg Malimbus 1: 22-28 or 1: 49-54) or of the textual format

of Malimbus 1: 36-42 for short texts per species or Malimbus 1: 90-109' for

longer texts.

OFFPRINTS 20 offprints of Papers (but not of Notes) will be sent to a

'Single author, gratis, upon request. 10 additional offprints will be issued

in respect of a second and of a third author of a paper, but they will be

photocopies. Offprints will not be stapled, bound or covered,* they are

merely cut from copies of the journal.

STANDARD WORKS WHICH NEED NOT APPEAR IN REFERENCE LISTS

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

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

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

London

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

. Longmans, London

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

Birds of West Africa. Collins, London

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

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

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

Muscicapidae (Sylviinae) Part I Occasional papers of the National

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

birds. Lusaka : Gov. Printer.

I

-mLIMBUS 5 (1) May 1983

CONTENTS

Données Nouvelles sur Monticola solitaria et Monticola saxatilis en

Sénégambie. Gérard J. Morel, Claude Monnet & Charles Rouchouse 1

Moult of the Long-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus climacurus Vieillot.

Marc Her remans & Jan Stevens 5

The Birds of Bamingui -Bangor an National Park, Central African

Republic. Arthur A. Green 17

The Marsh Owl Asio capensis: a Wet Season Migrant to The Gambia.

M.E. Smalley 31

Abyssinian Rollers Coracias abyssinica and European Rollers C.

garrulus in The Gambia. M.E. Smalley 34

Home Range Size, Breeding Behaviour, and Activities of Helmet Guinea-

fowl Numida meleagris in Nigeria. J.S.O. Ayeni 37

Rollers (Coracias) as Kleptoparasites . Alan Tye & Hilary Tye 44

Bird Species Numbers in Cameroon Vegetation Districts. M. Louette 45

Nest Predation by the Pied Crow Corvus albus . Alan Tye 50

Competition for Nectar between Sunbirds and Butterflies. H.D.V.

Prendergast ' 51

Possible Thrush 'Anvils' in Upper Volta. J. Frank Walsh & B. Walsh 54

Breeding of Black -headed Bee-eater in Zaire. V. Maes & M. Louette 55

New Records for the Lamto Region, Ivory Coast. H.D.V. Prendergast 56

On Nesting of the Lavender Fire-Finch. Amberley Moore 56

Notices Moroccan Ornithological Atlas / 6th Pan-African

Ornithological Congress / Coded Bibliography of African 57-60

Ornithology 1982 / Accounts

■\

MALIMBÜS

Journal of the West African Ornithological Society

Société d’Ornithologie de l’Ouest Africain

VOLUME 5 '983

Number 2 December

WEST AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGICAE SOCIETY

SOCIÉTÉ D’ORNITHOLOGIE DE L’OUEST AFRICAIN

Conseil 1982-1985

Président Professeur Brian J. Harris

Vice-Président Dr Gérard J. Morel

Secrétaire Professeur John H. Elgood

Trésorier Mr Robert E. Sharland

Editeur, Malimbus Dr C. Hilary Fry

La correspondance doit être adressée comme suit :

- les manuscrits et les demandes des numéros précédents à l'éditeur

(Aberdeen University Department of Zoology, Tillydrone Avenue,

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

- les cotisations et toutes questions financières au trésorier

(Fiat 7 Elsdown Court, Southampton Road, Rin^rwood, Hants, UK)

- les questions d'intérêt général au Président (Department of

Biological Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria)

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

B. P. 20, Sénégal)

- les autres questions au Secrétaire général (26 Walkford Way,

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

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

fondée en 1964. Son but est de promouvoir l'intérêt scientifique

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

logie de ces régions principalement au moyen de son journal Malimbus

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

Les demandes d'adhésion seront les bienvenues. Les cotisations

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

les Sociétés. Les membres reçoivent gratuitement Malimbus .

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

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

format que Malimbus) sont disponibles à raison de 2 livres anglaises

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

ponibles. Prix à la demande.

* les cotisations doivent être payées en livres sterling ou en francs

français pour leur encaissement au Royaume-Uni ou en livres

nigérianes pour leur encaissement au Nigeria.

AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY PRESS : La Société est très reconnaissante de

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

appartient le copyright de Mal imbus .

ISSN : 0331 - 3689

Emblem design by Philip Blasdale

1983

Malimbus

61

EDITORIAL

The Future

As the Society enters its 21st year it may congratulate itself for fulfilling

its primary office, that of publishing its journal, without break and (except

for a hiccup in '73- ’74) with considerable regularity ever since the first

unpretentious bulletin in May 1964. Insignificant as some articles may have

seemed at the time, our innumerable checklists and regional reports on avi-

faunas and notes and papers on individual species have accumulated into a

mass of data, the sine qua non for major reviews in African ornithology.

There is, however, cause for alarm. Judging from numbers of pages, our

bumper years were 1977-1980, but since the all-time high of 160 pp in 1980

each subsequent year has seen a decrease - 116 pp in 1981, 108 in 1982 and 96

in 1983. Lack of material is the reason for this number of Malimbus being

slim and three months late; and the prognosis for 1984 is not good. If

suitable submissions continue to decline, publication shall have to become

less than bi-annual, or the Society might have to consider combining its

assets with a stronger one . A further uncertainty stems from the present

Editor seeking relief from his post. The rewarding task of editing carries

with it the burdensome ones of production (photo-perfect originals) and

despatch, and two years of enquiries have not yet revealed any replacement

for this office, or viable alternative arrangement. Council welcomes

members' views on all of the above matters.

African Literature

This issue carries a review of the important 'The Birds of Africa', a

scholarly and well illustrated treatise which is attempting to set down in

its several volumes every salient fact pertaining to each one of the

continent's 1,850 or so bird species. Certainly, the time is ripe for such

a gargantuan review of knowledge. Besides Malimbus (VJAOS) and the much

older and more prestigious Ostrich (SACS) , other journals have been

contributing importantly to the stockpile of information: Honeyguide

(Zimbabwe OS) , Scopus (EANHS) , Bulletin of Zambian OS, Southern Birds

(Witwatersrand BC) , and of course museums journals like Arnoldia and

Durban Mus. Novit . and such European nationals as Alauda, Bull. Brit. OC ,

Gerfaut and Ibis. Not that bird journals and magazines have the monopoly:

the annual 'Bibliography of African Ornithology' supplementary to Malimbus

from 1975 onward shows that germane ornithology appears in at least 100

biological journals.

In addition, the past few years have seen a phenomenal growth in African

bird books. In the absence of any regular review feature few have been

cont. on p. 95

62

MALir-ÎBUS 5

A PRELIMINARY SURVEY OF BIRDS IN PARK W, NIGER

by S . H. Koster and J. F. Grettenberger

INTRODUCTION

Park W was established in 1936, but until recently little attention has been

given to its avifauna. It is the only national park in Niger and the one

remaining locality there with relatively undisturbed upland and riparian

vegetation; hence, many of its bird species probably do not occur elsewhere

in Niger. Although the climate is hot and dry for most of the year and the

vegetation is mainly scrub savanna, at least 283 species of birds occur.

Study Area

Park W lies within the Sudan savanna zone and is international with portions

in Niger, Benin and Upper Volta (Fig. 1) . The portion in Niger covers

2200 km^, and lies between latitudes 11°05' and 12°35'N and longitudes

02°05' and 02°50'E. It is essentially a peneplain at 250 m a.s.l,, and the

750 mm isohyet and 35° isotherm pass through it. The Niger River, the only

permanently flowing water, forms the eastern boundary.

Annual rains begin from early April to late June, usually in May, and

end in September /early October. The dry season has three distinct periods:

warm and humid in October-November , relatively cool and dry in December-

February, and hot dry in March-May. The upland vegetation is mainly

Combretum wooded savanna, consisting of fairly dense woodlands and shr\iblands

interspersed with small openings . Of several plant associations in the park

(Koster 1981), only riparian, woodland and shrubland are considered here.

From November 1975 to February 1978 and from March 1980 to November 1981,

v/e made observations on birds throughout the park, with monthly visits to

1-km-transect study areas, two in woodland, two in shrubland, and one in

floodplain and fringing forest of the Niger and the next two largest rivers,

the Mekrou and Tapoa. Mistnets were used extensively, especially in riparian

vegetation. Many nests were located, and other evidences of breeding were

obtained by observing fledglings, mating behaviour, and hypertrophied gonads

of specimens.

Niger River

The vegetation along the Niger River is the most diverse of the three riparian

areas. The fringing forest is interspersed with seasonal marshes, wood-

land and shrubland patches, and the transition from riparian to upland

vegetation is usually abrupt. Maximum and minimum flow periods occur during

February and July, respectively, corresponding to high and low rainfall

periods at the headwaters in the Guinea Highlands. During minimum flow

period, extensive gravel bars and shallow backwaters are formed. At flood

stage, several large marshes are inundated. Fringing forests grow to 30 m,

have a nearly closed canopy and a dense understory of shrubs. Common trees

are of the genera Diospyros , Ficus Daniellia , Mitragyna , Cola and

1983 Birds in Park W, Niger 63

Figure 1. Map of Park W: park boundary, .... international boundary.

Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May

Figure 2. Total monthly counts of bird species observed in Park W, Niger.

64

S. H. Koster & J. F. Grettenberger

MALIMBUS 5

P te r O car pus . Common shrub genera include Acacia and Combretum. The shrub

Mimosa pygra is common in marshes and along the banks.

The bird list here totalled 205 species, or 72% of the park's total.

Species restricted to the Niger included Little Bittern Ixobrychus mi nut us ,

African Skimmer Rynchops flavirostris , Grey Pratincole Glareola cinerea,

African Moorhen Gallinula chloropus , and other marsh birds. Wading birds

and waterfowl were uncommon except for White Storks Ciconia ciconia and

Whistling Teals Dendrocygna viduata.

Mekrou River

The Mekrou' s width is 10-20 m and depth 2-3 m during the late rainy season

(September) . Flow ceases by December, although numerous pools remain

throughout the dry season. The riverbed is mainly gravel with some rocky

sections. The riparian vegetation consists of a band of forest usually

less than 30 m wide, with dense understory and a nearly closed canopy

interspersed with patches of shr\ibland and woodland. Common trees are

Diospyros , Ficus, Daniellia, Cola, and in some areas Borassus palms.

190 bird species were recorded here, only 15 fewer than on the Niger.

Many species congregated in large numbers, especially during the dry season.

Among birds of prey, Bataleurs Te rathiopius ecaudatus were particularly

common then. A pair of Pel's Fishing Owl Scotopelia peli was often seen

in one locality. Species richness was impressive along the Mekrou; in one

1-km section, 152 species were recorded in a single month. Several large

colonies of Carmine Bee-eaters Merops nubicus nested in steep banks during

the dry season. A pair of White-headed Vultures Trigonoceps occipitalis

nested in a Borassus aethiopum palm.

Tapoa River

The Tapoa 's width is 5-10 m and its depth 1-2 m. Flow normally ceases

during November, but several shallow pools survive the dry season. The

riverbed is mainly silt deposits. Riparian vegetation is narrow and

discontinuous, thick, or merely a band of shrubs and small trees such as

Mitragyna inermis and Vitex chrysocarpa. A steep, narrow gorge extends for

1 km, with permanent waterholes and a rich variety of birds. 186 species

were recorded, 19 fewer than on the Niger. Species absent here, but present

along the Mekrou and Niger Rivers, were mainly those preferring dense under-

growth or marsh habitat. Several species observed in the Tapoa Gorge

apparently were not found elsewhere along the river.

Woodlands

Woodlands are dominated by Combretum and Terminalia. The average canopy

height is 8 m, canopy cover 40%, and the shrub layer 1.7 m. Dense grass

grows to 3 m and includes Hyparrhenia involucrata and Andropogon g ay anus .

156 bird species were counted. Observations indicated that

composition changed significantly by season. Fires, which bum about 70%

of the park annually, influenced distributions, and during peak flowering

1983

Birds in Park W, Niger

65

and fruiting periods, many bird species were attracted to woodlands. 11

species were in a single Lannea microcarpa tree in one hour, several seldom

seen again.

Shrublands

Comhretum, Acacia guiera, Dicrostachys are other abundant shrubs which

cover much of the park on ironpan soils in upland areas. The shrub layer

is 1-4 m high with scattered emergent trees, and is burned extensively.

Shriib canopy cover averages 28%. Grass cover is sparse or dense depending

on soil conditions, 1-2 m high. Open areas of annual grasses such as

Lodetia togoensis occur.

Only 67 bird species were recorded in shrublands, including Black-

bellied Bustards Eupodotis melanogaster , and once a Secretary Bird

Sagittarius serpentarus (which, according to locals, were formerly more

common) .

African Migrants

Monthly species counts were highest in the mid-dry season and lowest in

the late-wet season (Fig. 2) . Observations during the wet season were

affected by access and reduced visibility, yet the consistency of counts

during the study and the magnitude of seasonal differences seem likely to

reflect actual changes. Monthly and seasonal records in Park W corresponded

reasonably well with those of the same species reported in Nigeria (Elgood,

Fry & Dowsett 1973) . We expected to find more migrants, but observations

in the Niamey area 150 km north of Park W showed that in the wet-season many

African migrants occur well north of the park.

Palaearctic Migrants

Only 43 palaearctic migrants were recorded, many fewer than expected: in

the inundation zone of the Niger, Curry & Sayer (1979) found 108 species.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors wish to thank the Niger Waters and Forest Service, the

Directors of Park W for their support for this and other projects conducted

in the park .

REFERENCES

Curry, P . J . & Sayer, J.A. (1979) The inundation zone of the Niger as an

environment for palearctic migrants. Ibis 121: 20-40

Elgood, J.H., Fry, C.H. & Dowsett, R.J. (1973) African migrants in

Nigeria. Ibis 115(1): 1-45, 375-409

Koster, S.H. (1981) A survey of the vegetation and large mammals of

Park W, Niger. M.S. thesis, Michigan State University. 143 pp.

66

S. H. Koster & J. F, Grettenberger

MALIMBUS 5

APPENDIX

Breeding activity, seasonal occurrence, and habitats in Park W, Niger, November

1975 to February 1978.

Nomenclature follows that of Serle & Morel (1978) . Habitat categories 1

through 5 corresponds to the Niger River, Mekrou River, Tapoa River, woodlands

and shriiblands. s = sighting at seasonal waterhole ,

Nests in

Species Park

Phalacrocorax africanus

Anting a rufa

Pelecanus rufescens

Ardea cinerea

A. melanocephala

A . purpurea

A. goliath

Egretta alba

E. intermedia

E. garzetta

Ardeola ibis

A. ralloides

Butorides striatus Jim

Nycticorax nycticorax

Ixobrychus minutus

I. sturmii

Scopus umbretta Oct-Nov

Ciconia episcopus

C. abdimii

Anastomus lamelligerus

Ephippiorhynchus

senegalensis

Leptoptilos crumeniferus

Ibis ibis

Threskiornis aethiopicus

Bostrychia hagedash

Anas querquedula

Dendrocygna viduata

Nettapus auritus

Sarkidornis melanotos

Alopochen aegyptiacus

Plectropterus gambensis

Gyps ruppellii

G. africanus

Trigonoceps occipitalis

Necrosyrtes monachus

Jim

Aug

Mar

1983

Birds in Park W, Niger

67

Wet Season

Dry Season

X X

X

•

«

13

M O

0)

■H (D

s s

X X

X

X X

X

X X

XXX

X

X X

X

X X

X

X X

X

X X

X

X X

X

XXX

X X

X

X X

X

X X X X X

XXX

X

X X

XX XX

X X

XXX

X X X s s

X X

XXX

X

Woodland

Shrubland

68

S. H. Koster & J. F. Grettenberger

MALIMBUS 5

Nests in

Species Park

Woodland

Shrubland

1983

Birds in Park W, Niger

69

Species

Wet Season Dry Season

eti

T3

fO

Mekrou

70

S. H. Koster & J. F. Grettenberger

MALIMBUS 5

Species

Wet Season Dry Season

Nests in

Park

0 A Eh

W 0

> U 2 CQ « « >H

O W H < Dj C

2 p t) ph a 3 S

«

0

M O

0) M

2 a Eh

Motacilla alba

M. aguimp

M. flava

Anthus trivialis

Macronyx croceus

X X

X X X X X X

X X X X

X

X X

Turdoides plebejus

Jun-Jul

X X X X X

X X X X X X X

X

Pycnonotus barbatus

Dec- Jan

X X X X X

X X X X X X X

X X

Muscicapa aquatica

M. cassini

Myioparus plumbeus

Bradornis pallidus

Melaenornis edolioides

Batis senegalensis

Platysteira cyanea

Trochocercus longicauda

Terpsiphone viridis Jul

X

X X

XXX

X

X X X X X

X

X X

X X X X

X X X X X

X X

XXX

X

X XXX

XX XXX

X XXX

X X

XX XXX

Oenanthe oenanthe

0. hispanica

Myrmecocichla albifrons

M. aethiops

Phoenicurus phoenicurus

Cossypha albicapilla Dec

C. niveicapilla Jul

Luscinia megarhynchos

Cercotrichas podobe

C. galactotes

Turdus pelios

X

X X X X X

X

X X X X X

X

X X

X X X X X

X X X X

X X X X X

X X

X

X XX

XX X

X XX

X X

X

X X

XXX

X

X X X X

X

X X

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

Sylvia communis

S. atricapilla

S. cantillans

Phylloscopus sibilatrix

P. collybita

Sylvietta brachyura Jun

Hypergerus atriceps

Eremomela icteropygialis

Hippolais pallida

Eremomela pusilla May

Camaroptera brachyura Jun

Cisticola aberrans

C. cantans

Prinia subflava

XXX

X

X X X X X

X X

X

XXX

X X X X X

X

X X X X X

X X X X

X

XXX

X X X X X X X

X X

XXX X

X X

X

XX X

X X X X

X X

X

X X X X X

XXX

X X X X

X

X X X X

X

X X X X

Hirundo rustica

H. aethiopica

H. leucosoma

H. smithii

H. senegalensis

H. spilodera

Riparia paludicola

X

X X X X X

X

X X

X X X X

X X X X X X X

X X

XX XX

X XXX

XXX

X X

Woodland

Shrubland

1983

Birds in Park W, Niger

71

Wet Season Dry Season

• 0Î

Pi

d

o

(U Sh

•H 0)

s s

X X X X X

XXX

X X

XXX

X

XXX

X

X X

X XX

X X

X X X X

X X X X X

X X X X

XXX

X X

X

X X X X X

X X X X

X

X X X X X

X

X X X X X

XXX

X

XXX

X

X X X X

X X X X X

Woodland

Shrubland

72

MALIMBUS 5

S. H. Koster & J. F. Grettenberger

Species

Nests in

Park

Wet Season Dry Season

g ^

5 D

t) t)

Eh

U CU Eh

D W O

C W O

> U 2 CQ

O W ^ W

2 Q t)

«

Sh O

0) U

tJ' X

-H OJ

s s

vidua chalybeata

V. funerea

V. macroura

V. orientalis

Lonchura malabarica

Amadina fasciata

Pytilia phoenicoptera

P. melba

Lagonostica senegala

Estrilda caerulescens

E. larvata

E. troglodytes

E. melpoda

E. bengala

Jan

Aug

Jul

X X

XXX

X X

X X X X X

XXX

X X

X X X X X

X

X X X X X

X X X X

X X

XXX

X X X X X X X

X X X X X

X X X X X X

X X X X X

X X X X X X X

X X X X X

X X X X X X X

X X X X

X X X X X

X X X X

X X X X X

X X X X

X X X X X

X X X X

Stanley H. Koster, Dept. Eisheries and Wildlife , Natural Resources,

Michigan State University , East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA

John F. Grettenberger, B.P. 10537, Corps de la Paix, Niamey, Niger

Sapo National Park, established May 1983, the first of Liberia's seven

proposed national parks and nature reserves. For further information

contact: Division of Wildlife and National Parks, Forestry Development

Authority, PO Box 3010, Monrovia, Republic of Liberia.

Woodland

Shrubland

1983

73

L'INFLUENCE DE LA SECHERESSE SUR LE RYTHME NYCTHEIIERAL DES CHEVALIERS

COMBATTANTS PHILOMACHUS PUGNAX AU SENEGAL

par Bernard Tréca

Received 9 November 1983

L'un des problèmes auxquels il faut s'attaquer lors de l'étude d'une espèce

est celui-ci: que font les oiseaux toute la journée? Pourtant, les études

sur les rythmes nycthéméraux sont extrêmement rares en Afrique. Je n'en ai

connaissance d'aucune concernant les Chevaliers combattants Philomachus

pugnax. Très peu d'études d'ailleurs concernent cette espèce au sud du

Sahara (Schmitt et Waterhouse 1976, Tréca 1979, Pearson 1981) . Cette note

a donc pour but de combler une lacune .

La méthode d'étude est bien connue: lors de grands rassemblements comme

peuvent en former les Chevaliers combattants pendant la saison sèche, au

Sénégal, il n'est pas possible de suivre les activités d'un oiseau

particulier, mais par contre, on peut observer relativement facilement une

grande troupe. Si l'on note tous les 1/4 d'heures les pourcentages de chaque

activité (sommeil, toilette, prise de nourriture) et que l'on additionne ces

pourcentages, on aura en fin de journée une idée assez précise du temps

passé en moyenne par chaque oiseau, pour la prise de nourriture, par exemple,

on pour la toilette (Tamisier 1972) .

Une difficulté de cette méthode provient du fait que, dans la bande

observée, le nombre d'oiseaux n'est pas toujours constant. Une petite ou

même une grande partie de la bande peut disparaître de la vue de l'observateur.

Ces oiseaux ainsi disparus continuent-ils d'avoir la même activité que ceux qui

restent, ou au contraire, ont-ils changé d'emplacement pour entreprendre une

activité différente? Pour répondre à cette question, il faudrait qu'un ou

plusieurs autres observateurs puissent effectuer les mêmes observations dans

les autres places fréquentées par les oiseaux au cours de la même journée.

Si ce n'est pas possible, et sur une espèce aussi fidèle dans ses habitudes

alimentaires que le Chevalier combattant (Tréca 1975) , des observations

partielles de temps à autres les jours précédents ou les jours suivants

permettent de se faire une idée de ce que font les oiseaux qui sont partis

ailleurs .

J'ai choisi dans mes observations la date du 8 janvier 1975, que je

considère comme représentant une année "normale" puisque les précipitations

de la saison des pluies précédente n'avaient été que de peu inférieures à la

moyenne (Tréca 1978) , et qui est typique du comportement des Chevaliers

combattants, et la date du 5 février 1973 qui suit une saison des pluies très

déficitaire et montrera donc, par comparaison, les effets de la sécheresse

sur le comportement des chevaliers combattants.

La Fig. 1 montre le pourcentage de chevaliers combattants en train de se

nourrir, lors de chaque observation, tous les 1/4 heures.

Le 5 février 1973, à la Grande Mare de Richard-Toll , les chevaliers

combattants étaient environ 20 000 le matin. De 08.30 à 10.45, leur nombre

tombait à 2 000 pour remonteur ensuite à 20 000. Apparemment, d'après des

100%

74

B. Tréca

MALIMBUS 5

O O O

O tn

O

LD

O

ro

O

CO

O

r-

o

Figure 1 Pourcentages de chevaliers combattants en train de se uourrir

1983

Rythme nycthérémal de Philomachus pugnax

75

observations en différents lieux les jours suivants, les oiseaux qui étaient

partis avaient à peu près le même comportement que ceux qui étaient restés.

De 17.00 à 18.30, tous les chevaliers sont partis se nourrir sur les

rizières (observations les jours suivants), et après 18.30, ils sont revenus

pour être à nouveau 20 000 le soir.

Le 8 janvier 1975, les chevaliers combattants que j'observais sur les

rizières de Boundoum ont toujours été environ 10 000, à partir de 08.45 (heure

d'arrivée sur les rizières, venant de la remise du N'Diael) et jusqu'à 18.15

(heure de départ pour le N'Diael) .

Sur cette Fig. 1, le pourcentage d'oiseaux en train de se nourrir, le 5

février 1973 est très jusqu'à 12.00 heures (presque toujours 100%), ceci

étant dû au fait que la saison des pluies précédente ayant été très

déficitaire, la nourriture était assez rare et le temps passé pour sa recherche

important. Cette année là, nombre d'autres espèces, par exemple la Sarcelle

d'été {Anas querquedula) furent confrontées au même problème (Tréca 1978) .

Entre 16.45 et 18.30, le 5 février 1973 toujours, tous les chevaliers sont

partis. Des observations à cette heure là les jours voisins (avant et après

le 5 février) permettent de savoir qu'ils sont partis sur les rizières du

Colonat de Richard-Toll et de Rosso-Mauritanie où ils ne font que se nourrir

très rapidement du riz perdu lors de la moisson. Sur la courbe, j'ai donc

porté en pointillé le pourcentage estimé de chevaliers combattants en train

de se nourrir, en tenant compte bien évidemment du temps de vol nécessaire

pour rejoindre les rizières (1/4 h aller et 1/4 h retour). En 1975, au

contraire, l'année fut meilleure du point de vue pluviométrie, et les

observations furent faites directement sur les rizières où la nourriture

était abondante (principalement du riz perdu après la moisson, of Tréca

1975) . Le pourcentage de chevaliers en train de se nourrir est alors plus

faible qu'en 1973.

Si l'on fait le compte de la journée du 5 février 1973, entre 07.00 et

19.15, j'ai effectué 50 observations, une par quart d'heure. En multipliant

ce nombre 50 par 20 000 chevaliers combattants, nous obtenons 1 000 000. Je

n'ai pas observé 1 000 000 chevaliers combattants x 1/4 heure, mais seulement

609 500 (soit 61%, puisque à certaines heures une partie ou la totalité de la

bande avait disparu.

En additionant tous les chiffres obtenus pour chaque activité, y compris

les estimations pour les oiseaux absents, nous obtenons pour la prise de

nourriture: le 5/02/1973: 59.3% du temps d'observation ou 30.88% sur les 24

heures, (soit environ 7 h 25') puisque les chevaliers ne mangent pas la nuit;

et le 8/01/1975: 16.66% sur les 24 heures, soit environ 4 heures.

La nuit, les chevaliers ne font pratiquement que dormir avec cependant une

légère toilette de temps à autre (observations personnelles) . Après le lever

du soleil et jusqu'à leur départ pour les terrains de gagnage, environ 50%

dorment et 50% font leur toilette.

Les calculs pour les différentes activités sont reportés dans le tableau

ci-desS'ous; les chiffres sont arrondis aux plus proches 5'.

La colonne M représente la somme du temps passé à se nourrir, en moyenne,

par oiseau.

76

B. Tréca

MALIMBUS 5

La colonne D (oiseaux qui dorment) regroupe aussi les oiseaux qui ne

font rien. Le sommeil est en effet très léger et les chevaliers observent

souvent ce qui se passe alentour, sans rien faire, sans être inquiets.

La colonne T (toilette) regroupe les oiseaux qui se baignent et ceux qui

lissent leurs plumes avec leur bec.

La colonne A (autres activités) regroupe les oiseaux inquiets (cou tendu

pour essayer d’évaluer un danger) , les temps devol pour aller sur les terrains

de gagnage et en revenir, les vols pour échapper à un prédateur et les combats.

Le 8 janvier 1975, par exemple, j'ai noté: à 09.30 1 milan noir Milvus

migrans en chasse fait s'envoler tous les chevaliers pour 30 sec; à 09.45

Sans raison apparente, tous les chevaliers s'envolent pour 30 sec; à 10.30

1 milan n'effraie pas les chevaliers; à 13.16 1 milan et un busard cendré

Circus pggargus qui fait une attaque en piqué, mais ne capture rien. Tous

les chevaliers s'envolent pour 8 min et semblent inquiets ensuite pendant 4

min; à 14.15 milans font s'envoler les chevaliers pour 45 sec; à 14.30 un

busard cendré fait s'envoler les chevaliers pour 30 sec; à 17.30 trois milans

font s'envoler les chevaliers pour 1 min 15 sec.

Au total, les chevaliers ont donc dépensé 10 min 45 sec de vol pour

échapper aux prédateurs, plus quelques minutes pendant lesquelles ils sont

restés inquiets, sans rien faire d'autre, soit environ 15 min pour la

journée. Tamisier (1972) trouvait pour les Sarcelles d'hiver des dérangements

journaliers de l'ordre de 5-10 min par jour.

Quelques petits vols intéressant une partie seulement de la bande sous

observation se produisent lors de la prise de nourriture, pour changer

d'emplacement sur les rizières. Au total, ces vols représentent à peine

5 min par jour, par oiseau.

DISCUSSION

Au vu du tableau, il est clair qu'en 1973, les chevaliers ont dépensé beaucoup

plus de temps pour la recherche de la nourriture qu'en 1975 (année "normale") .

Ils ont donc été obligés de diminuer le temps passé pour leurs autres

comportements et spécialement pour la toilette qui n'est plus en 1973 que de

1 h 15 min contre 3 h 30 min en 1975. Le temps de sommeil a également été

réduit d'une heure par rapport à 1975. Le temps ainsi récupéré permet

1983

Rythme nycthéremal de Philomachus pugnax

77

d'augmenter le temps de nourrissage de 4 h en année "normale" à 7 h 25 min

en année de disette.

RESUME

Le rythme nycthéméral des chevaliers combattants se compose de; sommeil ou

veille 15 h 40 min, prise de nourriture 4 h, toilette 3 h 30 min et autres

activités (vols, combats 50 min, en année "normale".

En cas de grande difficulté pour trouver la nourriture, le temps

correspondant augmente obligatoirement (7 h 25 min en 1973) au détriment

du temps passé à la toilette et au sommeil.

SUMMARY

Ruffs wintering in Senegal divide the day as follows: sleeping or resting

15 h 40 min; feeding 4 h; grooming and bathing 3 h 30 min; flying, fighting

etc 50 min, in a "normal" year. When food is scarce (eg 1973) they spend

7 h 25 min feeding, to the detriment of grooming and sleeping periods.

BIBLIOGRAPHIE

PEARSON, D.J. (1981) The wintering and moult of ruffs Philomachus pugnax

in the Kenyan Rift Valley. Ibis 123: 158-182

SCHMITT, M.B. et WATERHOUSE, P.J. (1976) Moult and mensural data of Ruff

on the Witwatersrand. Ostrich 47: 179-190

TAMISIER, A. (1972) Etho-écologie des Sarcelles d'hiver Anas c. crecca L.

pendant leur hivernage en Camargue. These de Doctorat ^ Académie de

Montpellier, 157 pp.

TRECA, B. (1975) Les oiseaux d'eau et la riziculture dans le delta du

Sénégal, L'Oiseau et R. F. O. 45: 259-265

TRECA, B, (1977) Le problème des oiseaux d'eau pour la culture du riz au

Sénégal. Bull. IFAN T 39, série A (3): 682-692

TRECA, B. (1978) Evolution des populations d'anatidés éthiopiens et

estimations des ^dégâts d'anatidés dans le delta du Sénégal. Cah.

ORSTOM, sér. Biol. XIII (4); 339-345

TRECA, B. (1979) Détermination de l'âge du Chevalier combattant Philomachus

pugnax au Sénégal. Malimbus 1: 118-126

TRECA, B. (1981) Régime alimentaire de la Sarcelle d'été (Anas querquedula

L.) dans le delta du Sénégal. L'Oiseau et R. F. O. 51: 33-58

B. Trêca, Mission ORSTOM, BP 726 Bamako, Mali

78

MALIMBUS 5

RINGING IN NIGERIA IN 1982. 25th ANNUAL REPORT

by R. E. Sharland

Received 20 June 1983

Ringing in 1982 was mainly the work of Dr David Aidley on Bayero

University campus and in the Jekara reedbeds, Kano.

No overseas recoveries were reported but four birds ringed at Jekara -

two Sedge, one Reed and one Great Reed Warbler - were controlled by me in

the same place in March and April 1983.

Schedule 1 Numbers of Palaearctic species ringed

placée en parenthèses) près de Kabongo/Katanga (07°24'S, 25°38'E). A ma

connaissance c'est la première mention du Labbe parasite pour le Zaïre. A

noter que Kabongo se trouve à environs 1300 km de l'océan.

B- 19 10 Melsbroek , Belgique

Paul Herroelen

1983

79

DIET OF THE VILLAGE WEAVER PLOCEUS CUCULLATUS

by A.S, Adegoke

Received 15 September 1983

Revised 6 December 1983

Diet and feeding behaviour usually determine the importance of a bird

species as an agricultural pest, and feeding has therefore been studied in

many pest species in an effort to determine their pest status and find

appropriate control methods (Ward 1965, Zahavi 1971, Feare et al. 1974).

The diet of the Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus has not been studied

previously in much detail, although it is known to consume insects, rice,

maize, oil-palm fruits and wild grass seeds (Bannerman 1949, Ilabogunje

1959, Morel & Morel 1973, Funmilayo & Akande 1976) .

I have made a more detailed and systematic investigation of seasonal

variation of preferred diet, and factors that predispose each crop plant to

attack by Village Weavers.

STUDY METHODS

The study area was Ibadan, south-west Nigeria, with some observations

around Oyo. Types of cereal crops cultivated at Ibadan and Oyo differ;

rice is rarely grown at Oyo but is cultivated in Ibadan at the International

Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) , Institute of Agricultural Research

and Training and National Cereals Research Institute, Guinea-corn is widely

cultivated at Oyo but rarely in Ibadan; maize is grown equally in both

areas .

Feeding Village Weavers were observed with binoculars. Their foods

were identified either on the spot, or samples were collected. Birds were

captured with nets at least bi-monthly from May 1976 to April 1978 in all the

ecological zones of the study area. Mist-nets were used between 0900 and

1900 hours in roosts and feeding grounds while purse nets (Funmilayo 1975)

were used to capture birds roosting in nests.

Crop and gizzard contents were separated, dried at 100°C for 24 hours

and weighed. Percentage weights contributed to birds' diet by major food

species for each month was calculated to determine the importance of

agricultural crops in birds' diet.

Three birds were collected on August 9, 10 and 24 1976 at Moor

Plantation, where rice and maize were maturing simultaneously. At Moor

Plantation, people were employed with instructions to chase birds away only

from maturing rice. The crop and gizzard contents of each were analysed to

determine which crop or plant species was most frequently included in the

diet.

Rainfall values(mm)

80

A.S. Adegoke

MALIMBUS 5

TABLE

1 Commonest foods in Village Weaver crops and gizzards.

^y.Jun. Jul. Aug-Sep-Oct. Nov- Dec Jan. Feb. Mar Apr.

Months

Mean of monthly rainfall for 48 years

Total monthly rainfall May 1976 to April 1977

n )) 1977 » 1978

FIGURE 1 Annual rainfall pattern in Ibadan area.

1983

Village Weaver diet

81

EFFECT OF ANNUAL RAINFALL ON DIET

The normal monthly rainfall for Ibadan (Anon 1961) is compared with

total monthly rainfall obtained for each year of the study period to

determine, firstly, their rainfall status (Fig 2) and, secondly, the effect

on the birds' diet»

In Ibadan heavy rainfall (greater than 90 mm) usually starts from

March, but the effect is not significantly felt, especially on vegetation,

until May when some grasses like Eragrostis sp. start fruiting. It there-

fore appears that May marks the advent of abundant grass fruits for Village

Weavers. Over 138 mm of rain falls in May, June, July, September and

October. In August. only 89 mm fell early and maize was harvested when dry.

November to February are generally dry months (10-46 mm monthly) . March

(89 mm) and April (137 mm) are wetter (Fig 2) .

Rainfall during the first year (May 1976-April 1977) was generally

lower than average. Except for June and October, the monthly rainfall for

the rainy season of 1976 (658 mm) was much less than that for a normal

year at Ibadan (920 mm) . May, July, August and September 1976 had little

rainfall (122, 67, 32 and 39 mm) instead of the normal means of 149, 160,

89 and 178 mm. Those are the months when rain is of much importance for

the maturation of rice, wild guinea corn Sorghum arundicearum, the small-

seeded Rottboellia exaltata and other grasses. High rainfall of 194 mm for

October 1976 (mean 155 mm) was probably too late to have any beneficial

effect on grasses like wild guinea corn which must have matured, and rice

which normally should have been harvested by October.

But the monthly rainfall

1978) was greater than usual,

rainfall (May to October) was

April) was wetter than usual,

(2.0 mm). In March and April

(annual means 89 and 137 mm) .

in March, instead of May.

during the second year (May 1977 to April

Except in May and June 1977, wet season

lower than usual; the dry season (November-

except for November (1.0 mm) and February

1978, monthly rainfalls were 22 and 306 mm

Thus in 1978 heavy rain started earlier.

DIET COMPOSITION

Crop and gizzard contents consisted of 37 different items made up of

plants, animals and other items like grit and snail shells. The most

frequently encountered are shown in Table 1. Small bits of the mesocarp of

ripe fruits of oil-palm Elaeis guineesis , berries. Devil's Fig Solatium

toTvum and maize Zea mays were found in the crop and stomach of the Village

Weaverbird. Only the mesocarp of ripe oil-palm fruits was eaten. Whole

clean seeds of other grasses (Table 1, 5-14) were encountered in most cases,

but sometimes broken seeds and rarely fruits (seed enclosed in the calyx)

were found.

Adult insects (Orthoptera, Coleoptera, Isoptera and Hemiptera) , spiders,

insect larvae and a few unidentified pupae (Table 1, 15-19) were extracted

from the crop with little deformation, but in most cases only mutilated

parts (e.g. broken appendages and wings) were encoxintered. Insects included

two species of ants; Catantops sp. (Acrididae) ; Homorocoryphus vicinus

and Spathosternum pymaeum (Tettigoniidae) ; the termite Macrotermis

natalensis', and Chrysis sp. (Chrysidiae) . From November to March Village

Weavers fed on nymphs of the Variegated Grasshopper Zonocerus variegatus ,

82

MAL IMBUS 5

FIGURE

Rice

Maize

l^+^l Sorghum

I ° 0°°^ Oil palmffruit

l/'Z/l Pepper-like seed

|n Small seeds

Wild berry

r<<Ml Black ants

Beetle (adult)

|0r1hoptera(adult)

\0{){/\ lnsects(unidenttf ied)

Others

Grit

;i|i;r,il Lepidopterous larvae

hr-I-] Wild sorghum

Monthly percentage occurrences of food items in the crop and

stomach of the Village Weaverbird from May 1976 to March, 1978.

1983

83

which were defoliating and removing the barks of a variety of plants

including cassava, orange and maize. Some Variegated Grasshopper nymphs

littered the underneath of breeding colony trees during this period.

Insects contributed about 1% to the total dry weight of the crop and

gizzard contents during each month while other unidentified items

(Table 1) contributed less than 5%.

DIET VARIATIONS

Village Weavers consumed more items of food (9 per gizzard) in wet

than in dry months (6 per gizzard) , During the wet months, maize, rice,

seeds of Eragrostis sp. and berries formed major parts of the diet, while

sorghum, irrigated rice, R. exaltata ^ and S. torvum were the major items

consumed during the dry months. All crops except irrigated rice and maize

(only at IITA) were already harvested by the end of January and grasses

were burnt as from December consequently more food items were available

to birds in the rainy than the dry seasons. Insects and oil-palm fruits

were consumed throughout May 1976 to April 1977.

During the wet months of 1976, 8.4-26.5% (average 21%) of birds were

eating insects while 0--38% (average 18%) fed on insects during the dry

months of 1976 (Fig 3) . This trend, feeding more on insects during the

rainy than the dry months, was confirmed in the second year when during

the rainy season between 18-57% (average 38.5%) of birds fed on insects and

4-19% (average 13%) during the dry months (November 1977-March 1978) .

However it is interesting to note that orthopterous insects were extracted

from the gut content of less than 3% of total birds captured during the two-

year study period.

The composition of the food items in the diet in May 1977-April 1978

was different from that in the previous year (Fig 3) . Birds depended less

on Guinea-corn seeds in the second year when less than 2% fed on them,

compared with up to 18% in the first year. Oil-palm fruits form a major

component of birds' diet especially between May and July (both years) when

16-38% of birds fed on them.

Table 2 indicates that the quantity of food taken by males and females

was fluctuating during each month, season and year. For the first year,

maximum weight of 1.5±0.1 g of food was recorded for the females in November

1976 when birds were not scared from matured Wild Sorghum and R. exaltata .

Birds consumed an 'average of 0.5 g in August and September 1976 because bird

scarers were preventing them from consuming matured rice grains in rice

fields. By March and April 1977 bird ate least food; males ate an average

of 0.3 g and females 0.2 g of food.

Food hardship was suggested by some birds attacking irrigated rice

plots at IITA after bird scarers left in the evening, in March and April.

Birds were still consuming rice grains at dusk, when four were netted and

contained whole rice grains and few insect appendages.

In other months the birds ate more than 0.4 g since food was available

(maize from late May-July and Guinea-corn from October to January) . It

appears that they were obtaining adequate food during this period.

During the second year there was no month (except December) when

gizzards held small quantities of food (Table 2) , suggesting that there was

84

MALIMBUS 5

TABLE 2 Monthly mean body weight and crop-and-gizzard content weight.

significant (p = 0.05)

** significant (p = 0.01)

1983

85

no food hardship. Birds fed on large quantities of Wild Sorghum and R.

exaltata which matured early (August/September instead of October) , so

large quantities were found in the birds much earlier (from August-November

1977) in the second than the first year (Table 2) .

Male crop and gizzard contents weighed 0.80±0.03 g and female 0.66±

0.02 g (Table 2) , which are significantly different (P = 0.05) , Male birds,

with a mean weight of 41.3±3,0 g are significantly heavier (P = 0.05) than

females (33.0±1.6 g - Table 2) . But food weights per gram body weight of

males and females did not differ significantly (t = 0.04, P = 0.05) . This

implies that males ate more food by virtue of their greater weight. The

male alone builds the outer shell or the main part of the nests and it

consumes more food than the female .

Table 3 shows the numbers of male and female gizzards containing each

food item. A comparable number of each sex fed on grains, oil-palm fruits,

and fruits of S. torvum according to availability. Rather more females

(average = 61.5%) than males (average = 43.6%) ate insects. This difference

is not significant (t = 1.4, p = 0.05). These results indicate that the

qualitative composition of the diet was similar in both male and female

birds .

ECOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES IN DIET

Birds at Oyo had different diets from those at Ibadan (Table 4) . Only

an average of 24% birds consumed maize grains but 57% ate rice (Table 5) .

The percentage number of birds that fed on other items like Eragrostis

seeds (Table 5) are comparable with the values obtained for the same period

in August 1977 (Fig 3) suggesting that in August 1976 when this aspect was

investigated, birds preferred rice to maize.

THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURAL CEREALS

The percentage number of birds consuming different crop plant items

throughout the year is shown in Fig 4a, and the percentage dry weight

contributed by each crop plant fruit to the total food consumed by birds

during each month is shown in Fig 4b.

From June to çarly August in 1976, maize was the major food consiomed

and it contributed 28-52% to the dry weight of food. By the end of August

1976, when maize was harvested, upland rice was maturing and 60-90% birds

fed on rice grains until October 1976 when it was harvested. Rice

contributed 32-70% of dry weight of food. From November 1976 to January

1977, 34-40% birds were consuming maturing/matured guinea corn which

contributed more than 33% to food. In January-May 1977 birds obtained rice

from paddies at IITA which also formed the major food by weight. Birds fed

on mesocarp of ripe oil-palm fruit which contributed little to the dry

weight of food consumed.

Guinea-corn and oil-palm fruits were neglected during May to April

because Wild Sorghum and R. exaltata were abundant in the study area. It

shows that birds eat rice, maize and guinea corn whenever available, in

quantity depending on the availability of other foods.

TABLE 3 Percentages of gizzards containing various food items.

86

MALIMBUS 5

1983

87

TABLE 5 Percentages of gizzards containing various foods. Moor Plantation

(Ibadan), 1976.

Aug 9

Aug 10

Aug 24

average, Aug 9-24

Maize

Rice

Eragrostis sp

Ants

Others

20

78

29

O

98

24

49

10

50

49

10

45

O

24

54

24

57.3

13

25

67

FIGURE 3a. The percentage niomber of stomach of birds containing crop plant

parts during each month.

b. The percentage dry weight each food item contributed to the

stomach content of birds during each month.

88

MALIMBUS 5

DISCUSSION

The possibly beneficial role of Village Weavers in consuming insect

pests of agriculture like grasshoppers and termites appears to be limited.

The Devil's Fig is a problem weed in tropical pasture which has attracted

research for its control (Chadhoker 1976) . Although weavers ate ripe and

unripe fruits their effect on this weed appears insignificant (it is a

perennial with vegetative propagation) . Rice, maize, Guinea-corn and oil-

palm, important crop plants, are major foods. These crops mature

sequentially and provide an almost unbroken supply of food for weavers,

which may exert a detrimental effect on them. It appears that the degree

of use of crop plants in a particular locality and season depends on

alternative food sources available.

Village Weavers may subsist on agricultural crops in other ecological

zones (Collias & Collias 1971, Camara-Smeets & Manikowski 1981) .

Ward (1965) reported that severe crop damage was caused when seeds

formed only about 4% of the diet of the Weaver Quealea quelea, so crop

damage by Village Weavers may not be underestimated. Queleas may occur in

several millions but Village Weavers only in hundreds near croplands

(Adegoke 1979) ; but then almost every village has its colony of the Village

Weavers .

Feeding on different crops at different seasons, coupled with seasonally

changing breeding/roosting habit (Adegoke, in press) indicate that many forms

of control methods would be needed to curtail damage to all crops.

SUMMARY

A two-year study of the diet of Ploceus cucullatus in two south-west

Nigerian localities showed that it eats insect pests (grasshoppers

Zonocerus variegatus, Catantops sp . ; termites Macrotermis natalensis) , but

also eats important crop plants: rice, maize, and oil-palm fruits,

respectively contributing 71, 52 and 38% of dry-weight food in May-October.

In November-April guinea-corn, irrigated rice and maize formed 68, 88 and

42% of dry-weight food. But when seeds of Rottboellia exalta ta and

Sorghum arundicearum were abundant, crop damage was reduced. The

implication of diet in the control of the Village Weaver is discussed.

ACKNOWLE DGEMENTS

The study was supervised by Dr O. Funmilayo, Department of Agricultural

Biology, University of Ibadan. C. H. Fry and N. E. Collias contributed to

improving early drafts. Alh. M. Liman, Permanent Secretary, Federal

Ministry of Agriculture, Lagos contributed immensely to the success of this

Programme. I am grateful to them all.

REFERENCES

ADEGOKE, A.S. (1979) Ecology and Agricultural pest status of the Village

Weaverbird {Ploceus cucullatus cucullatus Muller 1776) . Ph.D. Thesis,

University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

1983

89

ADEGOKE, A. The pattern of Migration of Village VJeaverbird in South Western

Nigeria (In press), Auk.

ADEGOKE, A.S., FUNMILAYO, O. and AKANDE, M.O. Pattern of damage to early

and late maize in South Western Nigeria by the Village Weaverbird

[Ploceus cucullatus Muller) . (In press) . Tropical Pest Management,

28(4) .

ANON (1961) Statistics of mean monthly rainfall in Nigeria. Nigerian

Geographical Journal (4) : 49-52.

CAMARA-SMEETS et MANIKOWSKI, S. (1981) Preferences alimentaires de Ploceus

cucullatus au Tchad Malimbus, 3: 41-48.

CHADHOKAR, P.A. (1976) Control of devil's fig {Solanum torvum Sw.) in

Tropical pastures. PANS. 22(1): 75-78.

COLLIAS, N.E. and COLLIAS, E.C. (1971) Ecology of Ploceus cucullatus in

Natal. Koedoe, 14: 1-28.

FEARE, C.J., DUNNET, G.M. and PATTERSON, I.J. (1974) Ecological studies of

the rook (Corvus frugilegus L.) in north-east Scotland: Food intake and

Feeding behaviour. Journal of Applied Ecology 11(3): 867-896.

FUNMILAYO, O. (1975) A purse net for capturing Village Weaverbirds. The

Nigerian Field XL (3) : 134-137.

FUNMILAYO, O. & AKANDE, M. (1976) Ecology and Agricultural pest status of

the Village Weaverbird {Ploceus cucullatus Muller) in south-western

Nigeria, Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science 9(2) : 91-98.

HOPKINS, B. (1974) Forest and savana, Ibadan and London. Heinemann.

MOREL, G.J. & MOREL, M.Y. (1973) Cycle annuels de quelques oiseaux

granivores des savanes africaines semi-arides. (Annual cycles of some

seed-eating birds of the semi-arid African savannas) . Bull. Inst.

Fondam Af ri . Noire Ser A Sci. Nat. 35(1): 180-185 (abstract).

WARD, P. (1965) Feeding ecology of the black-faced dioch, Quelea quelea

in Nigeria. Ibis 107(2): 173-214.

ZAHAVI, A. (1971) The function of pre-roost gatherings and commiinal roosts.

Ibis 113(1) : 106-109.

A.S. Adegoke, Dept, of Agricultural Biology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Present address: Dept, of Agricultural Sciences , Federal Ministry of

Science & Technology, P.O. Box 53952, Falomo, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria.

90

NOTES

MALir4BUS 5

ON THE BARBARY FALCON FALCO PELEGRINOIDES IN NORTH EASTERN AFRICA - Although

Meinertzhagen (1930) stated that the Barbary Falcon breeds in Egypt and

winters in the Sudan, it has in fact been recorded in the neighbourhood of

Khartoum by falconers, J. G. Mavrogordato and D. E. Marrash, in every month

of the year except March and April, In Khartoum it was regularly seen on

certain high vantage points perching through the heat of the day. During

March and April, however, in its absence these perches were occupied by

blackheaded falcons of similar size, probably African Peregrines F. p.

perconfusus, arriving presumably from further south. D, E. Marrash (in

litt.) recorded six immature Barbary Falcons, four of them accompanying

adults, between 12 May and 26 August in the years 1960-63 (and a seventh on

26 February). W. Ruttledge (in litt.) also recorded two immatures near Wad

Medani on 1 and 7 June. The inference is inescapable that the Khartoum

birds left to breed elsewhere in March/April, returning towards the middle

of May onwards. Where, then, do they go to breed? D. E, Marrash believes

that they breed in the Sudan; but there is no record to date.

Is there time for them to migrate to Egypt to breed there and be back

at Khartoum by mid-May - a period of c, 75 days? Meinertzhagen (1930)

stated that they lay in March. Neither Cramp et al. (1980) nor Brown et ai.

(1982) give data on incubation and fledging to maturity. But, assuming that

the Barbairy Falcon takes a time between the periods of the slightly bigger

Eleonora's Falcon F. eleanorae (63-68 days) and the slightly smaller Hobby

F. subbuteo (56-65 days), then 60±3 days is probable for it. This allows

only about 15 days for the two flights. Moreover the flight back to

Khartoum would take place at a time when the stream of small migrants down

the Nile valley is much attenuated; however, the passage of Ringed Plovers

Charadrius hiaticula, together with Curlew Sandpipers Calidris ferruginea ,

Ruffs Philomachus pugnax, Greenshank Tringa nebularia and Wood Sandpipers

T. glareola , continues in fair numbers up to mid-May (unpub. observ.) .

Meinertzhagen (1930) gave the prey of the Barbary Falcon in Egypt as

'wagtails and pipits Motacillidae , Hoopoes Upupa epops , doves Streptopelia

spp.. Ringed Plover and, occasionally. Rock Dove Columba livia.' Thus the

smaller migrants form the bulk of its prey; by May many of these have left

Egypt for higher latitudes. In the Sudan W. Ruttledge (in litt.) recorded

Ruff, doves, bats (invariably taken from behind with an upward sweep and

eaten on the wing) , a Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis and a White-tailed Lapwing

Chettusia leucura-, but he agreed with J. G. Mavrogordato and D. E. Marrash

that its favourite prey was the Golden Sparrow Auripasser lute us . These

sparrows begin to arrive in Khartoum in early February and build up to an

abundant peak in June, leaving in October, by which time swarms of Greater

Short-toed Larks Calandrella brachydactyla and many wheatears Oenanthe spp.

arrive to winter.

Two of its congeners, Eleonora's Falcon and Sooty Falcon F. concolor ,

have adapted their breeding seasons so that fledging coincides with the

maximum passage of migrants. Can it be that the Barbary Falcons of Khartoum

have adapted their breeding to coincide with the maximum passage of small

migrants through Egypt in March/April and to the maximum density of Golden

Sparrows aroiond Khartoum in the months May to August? True, the bulk of

its prey species are on passage through Khartoum in March/April; so why fly

to Egypt? But most of the favoured small species tail off by the middle of

April, just when fledgling falcons would need most food. Most of the Hoopoes

Greater Short-toed Larks and Wheatears have left Khartoum by the end of

March and Pipits before the middle of April; wagtails and bee-eaters,

however, tail off only in the first week of May. In Egypt the bulk would

pass later and be more tired; therefore easier to catch.

33 Vine Court Road, Sevenoaks , Kent TNI 3 3UY , UK

P . Hogg

1983

NOTES

91

CASPIAN TERN FEEDING YOUNG IN WINTER QUj^TERS - Juveniles of many terns

{Sterna spp.) appear to have a long period of dependence and remain less

efficient hunters than adults for some time following independence (Dunn,

1972, Ibis 114: 360-366). Ashmole & Tovar (1968, Auk 85: 90-100) observed

six-month-old Royal Terns Sterna maxima being fed by adults in a wintering

area but, in 65 hours of observation of Sandwich Terns S. sandvicensis in

winter quarters in Sierra Leone, Dunn Hoc. cit.) saw only a single instance

of an immature begging from an older bird and that was unsuccessful. Little

is known about the timing of independence in terns, nor about the relation-

ships between parents and young during the transition to independence . In

particular, it is not clear at what stage adults cease volunteering food to

them, requiring the young to follow while soliciting {cf . Davies, 1976,

Behaviour 59: 280-295) as the Sandwich Tern observed by Dunn was doing.

On 21 December 1982, near Freetown, Sierra Leone, I saw an adult

Caspian Tern S. caspia, in winter plumage, flying with a fish in its beak

from the direction of the sea towards a group of four Caspians, including

one in immature dress, standing on a mudflat. The newcomer landed near the

immature, which begged, lowering its head, pointing its beak towards the

adult and calling. The adult walked a few paces towards the immature and

passed the fish to it. The immature then swallowed the fish, which was

about twice the length of its bill.

Caspian Terns are not known to breed in Sierra Leone, but are regular

winter visitors, probably from colonies in Senegambia or Mauritania. These

breed in July (e.g. Morel, 1980, Liste commentée des oiseaux du Senegal et

de la Gambie, Supplement 1, ORSTOM, Dakar) , so the immature was probably

5-6 months old. This incident suggests that, unlike Sandwich Terns (Dunn,

loc. cit.), Caspian Terns of this age remain dependent on their parents, as

the adult returned with a fish 'intended' for its young rather than having

to be persuaded to feed it {cf. Davies loc. cit.).

Alan Tye

Dept, of Zoology, Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown,

Sierra Leone

RED MANDIBLES IN THE WOODLAND KINGFISHER SUPERSPECIES - Adult Woodland

Kingfishers Halcyon senegalensis have the upper mandible red and the lower

mandible black; in very young birds both mandibles are dusky brown-black.

D. B. Hanmer {Sa f ring News 12, 1983, 11-14) figured several immature and

adult birds whicA she netted at Nchalo, Malawi, with varying areas of red

in their otherwise black lower mandibles. Nchalo is only 150 km from the

nearest breeding locality in the coastal range of a closely-allied para-

species, the Mangrove Kingfisher H. senegaloides , which has both mandibles

solid red, and I ventured to suggest {Sa f ring News 12, 1983, 14) that the

aberrant Nchalo kingfishers might be hybrids between the two species.

That notion is shared by Hanmer {Sa f ring News 12, 1983, 15) and has been

developed by her {Sa f ring News, in press) .

•In correspondence I was rash enough to state that, from memory, I had

never noticed red patches on the lower mandible of H. senegalensis handled

alive in several countries or as skins in several museiams. Subsequently I

have made a critical study, for THE BIRDS OF AFRICA, of the 266 skins of

this species at the British Museum (Natural History) , Tring, and I find

that no fewer than 24, or 9%, have some red in the lower mandible.

92

NOTES

MALIMBUS 5

In skins the red of the upper mandible rapidly fades to yellow-brovm,

and it is assumed that the same shade of yellow-brown in the lower mandible

was red in life. M. Louette examined several hundred skins of H.

senegalensis from Zaire (not the Tring ones) and found a few with a red or

pale line on the cutting edges or gonys of the lower mandible, but none with

large patches of red like the Nchalo birds (Hanmer, Safring News, in press) .

In contrast, the aberrant Tring birds are from all parts of Africa (Gambia,

Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Bioko, Sudan, Ethiopia,

Uganda, Kenya, Angola, Namibia) including Lubumbashi, Ruwenzoris and Poko in

south-east, east, and north-east Zaire, and they have 'red' patches up to

40% of the profile area of the lower mandible in extent.

Of the 24 red-mandibled specimens, 10 are unsexed, 11 male and 3

female. Most of those skins which are dated are over 75 years old, three

over 110 years old; two are only 15 years old (from Mt Nimba, Liberia, one

with 20% of the lower mandible reddish proximally and the other with red

blotches covering 40% proximally) , and the failure of the collector to

comment on mandible colour (see Colston, The birds of the Mt Nimba region

in Liberia, in press) suggests that 'red' discolouration may have appeared

only post mortem. One striking correlation, however, is with age in life;

of the 24 aberrant birds, 6 are fledglings or young juveniles, 11 immatures

(breast buff-washed and finely dark-speckled) , 3 immatures moulting into

adult plumage, and 4 are adults (breast clear pale grey) . They represent

approximately 60%, 18% and 5% respectively of the Tring holdings of fledgling

immature and adult birds. In the 7 adult and sub-adult birds the extent and

distribution of red is as follows: 3%, 3% and 20% ventro-proximally , 5% on

gonys, 10% in centre of profile (like adult la figured by Hanmer, loc . cit.,

p 12) , and 2 birds have long diagonal wedges of red (Figure 1) . Some of the

immature birds have similar wedges but most have the red restricted ventro-

proximally.

In summary, if lower mandible 'red' in H. senegalensis is not a post

mortem artefact, it appears to be sex and age related, appearing mainly as

large areas in young males, receding and in most cases vanishing at maturity.

This conclusion by no means invalidates the possibility of hybridization

in regions where H. senegalensis approaches the essentially coastal-lowland

range of H. senegaloides . Relationships between the two populations are of

much interest and need to be studied in the field. Differences which have

1983

NOTES

93

seldom been remarked hitherto, are that H. senegaloides has a longer,

broader bill than H, senegalensis but is smaller post-cranially, both in

south-east Africa and in east Africa (H . senegaloides has a dine of

markedly decreasing size from Natal, wing c. 106 mm, north to Kenya, wing

c. 96 mm) . In addition to the bill-colour difference, H. senegaloides has

the greater under primary coverts black-tippedj in H. senegalensis they

are white. The last character probably gives characteristically different

appearances to the outstretched wings of each species during its territorial

pivoting display (Greig-Smith, Ostrich 49, 1978, see pp. 71-72,- Fry, Ibis

122, 1980, see p, 61 where the remark about H. senegaloides is incorrect) .

Ornithologists should be on the look-out particularly for field differences

in displays and songs.

Finally, it may be remarked that the problem of lower mandible colour

is not confined to H. senegalensis . Some musexim specimens of M. malimbicus

have 'red' in the lower mandible, which is normally all black, and one

fledgling has an all-red bill (BMNH reg. no. 1911.12.23.3880, Principe Is.,

2 Mar 1909) .

C.H. Fry

Aberdeen University Zoology Dept., Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen AB9 2TN, UK

ADDITIONS TO LOCAL AVIFAUNAS : KANO STATE - The following species are

additional to those previously reported for Kano State, Nigeria, by Sharland

& Wilkinson {Maliwbus 3, 1981: 7-30) and Wilkinson & Aidley {Malimbus 4,

1982: 107). For details of localities see Sharland & Wilkinson (op, cit.).

Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola Two present on the shore of Tiga Lake

from 15 to 27 January 1983, accompanied by a third individual on 21

January,

Dunlin Calidris alpina Also recorded from Tiga Lake,- two on 14 January

and three on 21 January 1983,- at least one remained until 16 February.

Blue-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon malimbica Single birds at Falgore on 9

March, 19 March and 18 June 1983; all records were from the same riverine

locality and may be of a single individual.

Blue-bellied Roller Coracias cyanogaster Single birds in different

localities within Falgore Game Reserve on 18 August, 8 September and 20

October 1982, and on 16 January and 10 July 1983.

Rock-loving Cisticola Cisticola aberrans A singing male clearly seen on

the inselbergs at Rano on 21 September 1980. We thank D. O'Connor for

pointing out this omission from previous lists.

Violet-backed Sunbird Anthreptes longuemarei Three records from a river-

side locality in Falgore; single males on 21 December 1982 and 9 March

1983, a pair on 2 February 1983.

R. Beecroft and R. Wilkinson

Hall Lane, Witnesham, Suffolk, UK and Dept, of Biological Sciences, Bayero

University , PMB 3011, Kano, Nigeria

94

REVIEWS

MALIMBUS 5

THE BIRDS OF AFRICA Vol I, by L.H. Brown, E.K. Urban and K. Newman, 1982,

October, London: Academic Press (£53.40, S99.00).

When Leslie Brown died in July 1980 he had been working on this book

practically round the clock for many months, and it is a tragedy that he was

not to live to see not only the publication of this remarkable work but also

the completion of the series. By the look of Volume I, THE BIRDS OF AFRICA

will ultimately comprise the most fitting tribute and memorial to this most

gifted of African ornithologists. In concept the work was entirely Leslie

Brown's, and I see it as extremely fortianate for ornithology in our continent

that, in 1976, he chose Academic as his publisher. 'Persuaded' might be a

better word, for, with Kingdon's seven-volume 'East African Mammals', this

is the first large-format, highly illustrated, multi-volume faunal work that

Academic have entered upon in their long and distinguished publishing history.

It is a huge enterprise, which will run to at least five multi -authored

volumes (Volume II, edited by E.K. Urban, C.H. Fry and S. Keith, has been

written by a score of experts and is nearing completion) , and it is wholly

in character that Brown and his colleagues have produced a book of the highest

academic excellence. The text makes best use of the bibliography of 1,500

up-to-the-minute references, but also draws extensively upon the authors'

own massive experiences in west, east, central and southern Africa.

Publishers' claims are not exactly neutral, but I cannot fault their remark

that "These volumes are sure to be acclaimed as the authority on the avifauna

of Africa for many years to come. The quality of the text and the beauty

of the plates will assure them pride of place on the shelves of ornithologists

and bird-watchers everywhere".

On their book-shelves, yes, but not exactly in their pockets. At 23 x 31

cm and 536 pages, THE BIRDS OF AFRICA is not a guide for field use; all the

same, it has been written primarily for the field ornithologist. With its

successors this volume (Ostrich to falcons) deals with all bird species

known from mainland Africa. The introduction, commendably broad in scope,

should serve one of the handbook's aims to "stimulate much-needed research

on the avifauna of this fascinating continent".

Most species accounts use the heads Range and Status, Description, Field

Characters (to aid identification). Voice, General Habits, Food, Breeding

Habits, and References, and each of the long 'habits' sections deals with a

number of readily identifiable topics by paragraphs. Distribution maps

(approximately 8x9 cm) accompany every species account. These sometimes

seem very generalised, recalling maps in Mackworth-Praed & Grant (1973) rather

than those in Snow (1978) . Larger maps providing greater detail would be

more appropriate in this authoritative work. Apparently monophyletic groups

with geographical representatives which occupy largely distinct ranges

(superspecies) are commonly encountered in Africa (see page 2 of Brown's

introduction) . It would have been instructive and space-saving if ranges of

such closely-related populations, and also where appropriate other allopatric

congeners (e.g. the two Bulweria petrels) , were plotted on single maps.

Twenty-eight colour plates, some useful figures, and an abundance of line

drawings, contribute greatly to the attractiveness of the book. Peter

Hayman's fie Id- guide -sty le portraits (Plates 1-17) are of a high standard,

although on 13 a Sacred Ibis lacks a toe. The plates by Martin Woodcock

(18-32) are disappointing; clarity is sometimes marred by complicated

compositions, weak colour and intrusive background. It is a pity that

field-guide postures, facilitating comparison between species, are

dispensed with in many plates.

1983

REVIEWS

95

Undoubtedly the book's most troublesome feature is the indirect labelling

of plate illustrations. It is difficult to decipher a reduced silhouette

key, and in order to find the name of a plate illustration the reader has

to count images on a sometimes crowded page (like Plate 32) . Readability

could be improved if, beside each illustration, the label or reference code

to an accompanying key were provided. Otherwise little space would be

sacrificed if silhouettes matched illustrations in size and had labels

superimposed rather than referred to by a number. The usefulness of the

book as an identification aid would also be increased, and accounts of

field characters complemented, if pointers directing attention to diagnostic

features were added to the plates.

"The Birds of Africa" will be needed by libraries and coveted by

ornithologists unable to afford it. The jacket price may deter some of those

able to make best use of it, although handsome discounts have been available

through major ornithological societies including WAOS . Improvements in

labelling and style of the plates, and distribution maps of a higher

standard, would be welcome in future volumes which will be eagerly awaited.

A. M. Jones

cent, from p,

noticed in Malimbus ; but a mere list of titles of some recent works of

more serious intent may be of interest.

Bundy, G. (1976) The Birds of Libya. Pp 102. Brit. Orn. Union, London.

Benson, C.W. & Benson, F.M. (1977) The Birds of Malawi. Pp 263. Limbe,

Malawi .

Cramp & Simmons (1977-) Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East and

North Africa: The Birds of the Western Palearctic. Vol. I (1977) pp 722,

Vol. II (1980) pp 695, Vol. Ill (1983) pp 913. Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford.

Irwin, M.P.S. (1978) A Bibliography of the Birds of Rhodesia. Pp 241.

Rhodesian Orn. Soc., Salisbury.

Snow, D.W. (ed.) (1978) An Atlas of Spéciation in African Non-Passerine

Birds. Pp 390. Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist., London.

Newman, K. (1979) Birdlife in Southern Africa. Rev. ed., pp 252. Macmillan

J ohanne sbur g .

Pakenham, R.H.VJ. (1979) The Birds of Zanzibar and Pemba. Pp 134. Brit. Orn.

Union, London.

Thomsen, P. & Jacobsen, P. (1979) The Birds of Tunisia. Pp 165. Copenhagen.

Britton, P.L. (ed.) (1980) Birds of East Africa. Pp 271. EANHS, Nairobi.

Brown, L.H. & Britton, P.L. (1980) The Breeding Seasons of East African

Birds. Pp 164. EANHS, Nairobi.

96

MALIMBUS 5

Cyrus, D. & Robson, N. (1980) Bird Atlas of Natal. Pp 320. Pietermaritzburg.

Jensen, J.V. & Kirkeby, J. (1980) The Birds of the Gambia. Arhus. Pp 284.

Aros Nature Guides, Aarhus C.

Curry-Lindahl, K. (1981) Bird Migration in Africa. 2 vols, pp 695.

Academic Press, London.

Gore, M.E.J. (1981) Birds of The Gambia. Pp 130. Brit. Orn . Union, London.

Irwin, M.P.S. (1981) The Birds of Zimbabwe. Pp 464. Quest, Harare.

Louette, M. (1981) The Birds of Cameroon. Pp 295. AWLSK, Brussels.

Brown, L.H., Urban, E.K. & Newman, K. (1982) The Birds of Africa. Vol, I,

pp 521. Academic Press, London.

Elgood, J.H. (1982) The Birds of Nigeria. Pp 246. Brit. Orn. Union, London.

Schmidl, D. (1982) The Birds of the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.

Pp 132. Brit. Om. Union, London.

Steyn, P. (1982) Birds of Prey of Southern Africa. Pp 309. David Philip,

Cape Town.

Thévenot, M. et al. (1982) Compte Rendu d 'Ornithologie Marocaine, Année

1981. Pp 118. Université Mohammed V, Rabat.

Phipson, L.P. & Maclean, G.L. (1983) Ostrich Index Vols. 21-50 1951-1979.

Pp 225. S. Afr. Orn. Soc., Johannesburg.

Rowan, M.K. (1983) The Doves, Parrots, Louries and Cuckoos of Southern

Africa. Pp 429. David Philip, Cape Town.

In press, books or book-length papers:

Colston, P. & Curry-Lindahl, K. The birds of the Mt. Nimba region of

Liberia.

Dean, W.R.J. & Huntley, M.A, An updated list of the birds of Angola.

Ash, J.S. & Miskell, J.E. Atlas of birds of Somalia.

In preparation , bird atlases for Morocco, Sudan, Kenya, Botswana and

La — X* ^ ,

Great White Egrets Egretta alba and a Little Egret E

Photo: D. Richards

RECOMMANDATIONS AUX AUTEURS

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

avec illustrations. Les manuscrits doivent être dactylographiés à doioble

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

que possible, les manuscrits auront été auparavant soumis à un ornithologue

ou un biologiste.

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

mais les figures doivent être préparées pour une reproduction directe avec

possibilité d'une réduction de 20%. On se servira d'encre de Chine et d'un

papier blanc de bonne qualité,- on dessinera lettres et grisés avec des

"Letraset" ou "Letratone" (ou équivalent) .

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

système métrique, les références devront être soigneusement suivies et

pourront être recherchées dans ce numéro et dans les précédents. Les

articles contenant de longues listes d'espèces devront être du format d'un

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

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

1; 90 pour les textes plus longs.

REFERENCES A OMETTRE DANS LA BIBLIOGRAPHIE

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

Tropical Africa. 8 vols. Crown Agents, London,- ■ — (1953) The Birds

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

London

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lon gman s , Lon don

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

Birds of West Africa. Collins, London

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

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

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

Muscicapidae (Sylviinae) Part I Occasional papers of the National

Museiims of Southern Riodesia 3 (24B) i 399-430; (1961) A revised check

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

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

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

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

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

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

birds. Lusaka : Gov. Printer.

mLiriBUS 5 (2) December 1983

CONTENTS

Editorial: .The Future,- African Literature 61

A Preliminary Survey of Birds in W Park, Niger. S.H. Koster & J.F.

Grettenberger 62

L'Influence de la Sécheresse sur le Rythme Nycthérémal des Chevaliers

Combattants Philomachus pugnax au Sénégal. Bernard Tréca 73

Ringing in Nigeria in 1982. 25th annual report. R.E. Sharland 78

Un Labbe Parasite Stercorarius parasiticus au Katanga: une Nouvelle

Espèce pour la Zaire. Paul Herroelen 78

Diet of the Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus. A. S. Adegoke 79

On the Barbary Falcon Falco pelegrinoides in North Eastern Africa.

P. Hogg 90

Caspian Tern Feeding Young in Winter Quarters. Alan Tye 91

Red Mandibles in the Woodland Kingfisher Superspecies. C.H. Fry 91

Additions to Local Avifaunas: Kano State. R. Beecroft & R. Wilkinson 93

Review: The Birds of Africa Vol. I. A.M. Jones 94

MAUMBÜS

s/

Journal of the West African Ornithological Society

Société d’Ornithologie de l’Ouest Africain

VOLUME 6 1984

Numbers 1 and 2, October

WKST AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

SOCIÉTÉ D’ORNITHOLOGIE DE L’OUEST AFRICAIN

Council 1982-1985

President Professor Brian J. Harris

Vice-President Dr Gérard J. Morel

Hon. Secretary Professor John H. Elgood

Hon. Treasurer & Membership Secretary Mr Robert E. Sharland

Managing Editor, Malimbus Dr C. Hilary Fry

Correspondence should be addressed as follows:

- to the Managing Editor (Aberdeen University Department of Zoology,

Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen AB9 2TN, Scotland, U.K.) regarding contribu-

tions to Malimbus and purchase of back numbers (i.e. the Bulletin of the

Nigerian Ornithologists' Society)

- to the Hon. Treasurer (Flat 7; Elmsdown Court, Southampton Road, Ringwood

Hants, U.K.) regarding subscriptions and financial matters

- to the President (Department of Biological Sciences, Ahmadu Bello

University, Zaria, Nigeria) or Vice-President (Station d' Ornithologie,

Richard-Toll, B.P. 20, Sénégal) regarding policy matters

- to the Hon. Secretary (26 Walkford Way, Highcliffe, Dorset BH23 5LR, U.K.)

regarding all other matters

The Society grew out of the Nigerian Ornithologists' Society, which was

founded in 1964. Its object is to promote scientific interest in the birds

of West Africa and to further the region's ornithology mainly by means of the

publication of its journal Malimbus (formerly the Bulletin of the Nigerian

Ornithologists' Society) .

Applications for membership are welcomed. Annual membership subscription

rates are £6.00* for Ordinary Members and £15.00* for Corporate Members.

Members receive Malimbus free of charge.

BACK NUMBERS : Vols. 11 (1975), 12 (1976), 13 (1977) and 14 (1978) of the

Bulletin of the Nigerian Ornithologists' Society (the same format as Malimbus)

and of Malimbus Vol. 1 (1979) onward are available at £3-00* per volume.

Most earlier volumes of the Bulletin are still available, at prices on

request .

* Payments may be made in £ sterling or FFr for encashment in U.K. or in

Nigerian N for encashment in Nigeria.

AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY PRESS : The Society acknowledges with gratitude

subsidy by the Ahmadu Bello University Press, Nigeria, to whom copyright of

Malimbus belongs.

ISSN : 0331 - 3689

Emblem design by Philip Blasdale

1984

Malimbus

1

Volume 6

The éditorial in Malimbus 5 (2), December 1983» (reproduced below in Rrench),

drew attention to the diminution of submissions in recent years. Members'

responses have been most gratifying, and with this Volume we may hope that

the downward trend has been arrested. It now remains to reverse it. During

1984 difficulties with typing have beset production, and Council apologises

for the usual bi-annual issues being combined this year into a single number.

Whether Volume 7 will appear in one or two parts will- depend on how much mat-

erial is submitted and accepted within the next few months. Meanwhile, the

editorial problem has not resolved itself. Whilst Council sees it as of

prime importance to maintain production quality, readers will notice that

several different type faces have been used in the production of this issue

Malimbus . That is because some authors' edited photo-perfect second-draft

typescripts are now being used by the printer, avoiding the need for the

Editor to prepare clean typescripts? and because other typing is being done

in a variety of places and no longer on a single machine,

Af rican Literature

New books this year:

Ash, J.S. & Mlskell, J.E. (1984)

No. 1, pp 1-97.

Birds of Somalia.

Scopus Special Supplement

Prigogine, A. (1984) Les Oiseaux de l'Itombwe et de son Hinterland, Vol. 3-

Mu see Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, pp 1-146.

Addition (see Malimbus 96):

Altenburg, W. , Engelmoer, M. , Mes, R, & Piersma, T. (1982) Wintering Waders

on the Banc d'Arguin. Report of Netherlands Ornithological Mauritanian

Expedition 1980. Leiden, pp 1-282.

Le Futur

Au noment ou la Société entre dans sa 21éme année, elle peut se féliciter

d'avoir atteint son premier objectif, à savoir la publication d'un journal

sans interruption (excepté pour un "raté" en 73-74) et avec une

considérable rêcailaritê, depuis même le madeste premier bulletin de mai

1964.

Aussi insignifiants qu'avaient pu paraître certains articles à ce

moment, les innombrables listes et rapports régionaux sur les avif aunes et

notes et articles sur des espèces particulières se sont accumulés en une

masse de documents, le sine gua non pour une revue importante

d ' omitlioloqie africaine.

Il y a, cependant, raison de s'alarmer si l'on juge par le nombre de

pages? nos années-choc furent 1977-1980, mais depuis le record de 1980

avec 160 pages, chaque nouvelle année a marqué une diminution : 116 pages

en 1981, 108 en _^982 et 84 en 1983. Le manque d'articles est la raison

pour laquelle ce numéro de Mal imbus est mince et paraît avec 3 mois de

retard? et les pronostics pour 1984 ne sont pas bons. Si le nombre

d'articles proposés continue de diminuer, la publication devrait devenir

Continued on page 7.

(* No. 5 (2) Décembre I983)

2

MALIMBUS 6

VARIATION IN EYE COLOUR OF BLUE~EARED GLOSSY STARLINGS

by R. Wilkinson

Received 10 May 1984

Bannerman (1953), Hall & Moreau (1970) and Mackwarth-Praed & Grant (1973)

gave the adult eye colour of Blue-eared Glossy Starlings Lamprotornis

chalybaeus as yellow, ’t'\hile Bannerman (1930-51) noted that immature eyes

are reddish-brown with an outer grey ring. On first encountering the

species in northern Nigeria I was intrigued to find that most adults have

yellow eyes, but a few birds have vivid red-orange eyes. It led me to

examine the series of skins in the British Museum (Natural History) at

Tring noting the eye colour, sex and subspecies as recorded on the label.

I follow E/hite (1962) in including L. c. hartlaubi and L. c. chalybaeus ,

and for the geographical distribution of subspecies.

JUVENILES

Of three birds in juvenile plumage two were noted as having brown irises

and the third as 'dull milky grey' . Birds in transitional plumage had eye

colours of shades of yellow (six birds), red-brown (twD birds, one with

outer ring grey) and red (a single immature male) .

ADULTS

Numbers of vhite, yellow, orange and red-eyed birds of each subspecies are

given in Table 1 . That includes all birds in adult plumage (v^ether

recorded by the collector on the basis of gonadal development as adult or

immature) . When intermediate colours were noted (e.g. orange-yellow) , the

final colour (i.e. yellow) was taken to be dominant; it reduced the number

of colour categories to manageable proportions but entailed sacrifice of

intermediate shades and of such evocative descriptions as 'primrose

aureolian' and ' cadmium orange ' .

Commonest eye colours are yellow and orange. Red was recorded in only

three birds (all males) and vhite only once, but no obvious correlation was

apparent with respect to eye colour and sex. The predominant eye colour

differed in the different subspecies, the geographical distribution of

vhich is indicated in Fig. 1 .

Yellow is the commonest eye colour in i. c. chalybaeus (West Africa east

to Sudan) and in L. c. cyaniventris (centred on Ethiopia) with v\hich it

intergrades (I\/hite 1962) . Yellow is also the most frequent colour in inter-

grades between L. c. cyaniventris and the more southerly L. c. sycobius,

although in the latter orange and yellow-eyed birds are equally represented.

ITie very small sample of L. c. nordmanni (southern Africa) are all orange-

eyed.

1984

Eye colour in glossy starlings

3

TABLE 1 Eye œlour in Lamprotornis chalybaeus

FIGURE 1 Distribution of Blue-eared Glossy Starlings (after Hall & Moreau

1970). Centres of distribution of subspecies: 1 = l. c. chalybaeus,

2 = L. c. cyaniventris , 3 =1-. c. sycobius , 4 = L. c. nordmanni .

4

R. Wilkinson

MALIMBUS 6

Muséum observations are consistent with qeocrraphical variation in eye-

colour of L. chalybaeus suggested by descriptions in field guides: yellow

in West Africa, orange-yeliow in East Africa and orange in southern Africa

(Serle & Morel 1977, Williams & Arlott 1980, Prozesky 1974). However, such

geographical variation in eye colour is coirplicated by the considerable

individual variation within each subspecies (Table 1) and at least in the

case of L. c. chalybaeus even within a single population.

REFERENCES

PROZESKY, O.P.M. (1974) A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa.

2nd edition, Collins: London.

TCELLIAMS, J.G. & ARLOTT, N. (1980) A Field Guide to the Birds of

Eastern Africa. Collins: London.

R. Wilkinson , North of England Zoological Society, Upton-by-Chester ,

CH2 ILH, UK

LONG-TAILED NIGHTJAR DRINKING IN FLIGHT - Pettet (1982, Brit. Birds 75:

377) reviews published records of nightjars {Caprimulgus spp.) taking water

in flight; in view of the difficulties inherent in observing nightjars, the

habit of drinking in flight seems rather common. The following observation

adds the Long-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus climacurus to the list of

published records.

The observation was made after dark on 29 March 1983 at Tambacounda,

Senegal. Many bats, primarily Microchiroptera, were drinking from a

swimming pool by skimming the surface in the manner of hirundines drinking

on open water. A Long-tailed Nightjar made a circuit of the pool, without

attempting to drink, before disappearing into the darkness outside the

circle of pool lighting. It reappeared after a few seconds, flew slowly

and low to a position about 20 cm above the vater vhere it hovered briefly

and clumsily before dropping to the surface, dipping its beak and flying

away. The tail was raised viiile the bird was close to the water surface.

I he same or another nightjar returned to drink three more times in the

following hour. On one of these occasions the bird mis-timed its descent

and caught its wings in the water, causing it to land on the surface, but

it succeeded in raising itself and flew away. On two of the approaches,

the bird hovered more than once, at successively lower altitudes above the

water, before drinking. This drinking technique seans more laboured than

that used by hirundines and other nightjars (Pettet, loc . cit.) and may

indicate that Long-tailed Nightjars are less adept at slow or skimming

flight, although the proximity of trees to the pool may have restricted the

flight path.

The pool was chlorinated, but that did not deter bird or bats from

drinking. At the end of the dry season in the Sahel, there were few other

sources of water available in the area. However, hirundines frequently

drink from swiimdng-pools in West Africa (pers . obs . ) even when other water

sources are available nearby.

Alan Tye

Dept, of Zoology, Fourah Bay College, Univ. of Sierra Leone,

Freetown , Sierra Leone

5

198^

ICBP CAMEROON MONTANE FOREST SURVEY*

by S.N, Stuart

Received 9 July 1984

An expedition of seven ornithologists, led by the author, worked in the

field from late November 1983 to April 1984. Other members were C.G.R.

Bowden, M.O. Fedden, M.E. Gartshore, F.P. Jensen, H.L. Macleod and H. Tye.

The aim of the project was to assess the conservation status of the mon-

tane forest avifauna alona the mountain chain of western Cameroon. This is

a particularly iuportant area for rare birds, and seven species to be

included in the forthcoming ICBP African Red Data Book are to be found here:

the Cameroon Mountain Francolin Francolinus camerunensis , Bannerman's

Tuxaco Tauraco bannermani , Green-breasted Bush-shrike Malaconotus gladiator ,

Kupe r^ountain Bush-shrike M. kupeensis , I-^Ihite-throated Mountain Babbler

Lioptilus gilbert! , Banded Wattle-eye Platysteira laticincta and Bannerman's

Weaver Ploceus bannermani .

The expedition started its work on Mt Cameroon, spending one week on the

eastern slopes above Buea and five weeks on the southern slopes facing tne

sea. The slopes of Mt Cameroon are still heavily forested although

clearance is continuing in the vicinity of Buea viiere there is a large human

population. The low altitude forests on the southern slopes are probably at

risk following the construction of a new road along the coast. Unfortu-

nately, it was not possible to survey the western and northern sides of the

mountain but, because these areas are difficult to reach, it is considered

unlikely that large-scale clearance is taking place there. The expedition

found the Cameroon Mountain Francolin (v^ich occurs only on Mount Cameroon)

to be common on the upper slopes, occurring as low as 850 m. a.s.l. on the

southern side. This is encouraging news because previous reports had

suggested it to be in severe danger of extinction as a result of hunting.

Although hunting continues, it appears that the species is able to withstand

the existing hunting pressure. On the southern slopes of the mountain the

Green-breasted Bush-shrike was found in a narrow altitudinal band between

900 and 1 ,400 m v\iiere it was very rare. The species occurs on most of the

western Cameroon mountains but is every\\iTiere most uncommon. Several other

interesting species were found on Mount Cameroon, including the Cameroon

Mountain Greenbul Andropadus montanus , Rufous -cheeked Robin-chat Cossgpi a

bocagei , Grey-necked Picathartes Picathartes areas and the Black-throatcd

Apalis Apalis jacksoni.

We then WDrked for tvo weeks on Mt Kupe, a small mountain rising to

2,100 m. Forest conservation on Mt Kupe remains good, mainly because the

Bakossi people avoid the mountain as a result of local taboo. Human

interference is, therefore, minimal, in terms of disturbance to the vegeta-

tion and himting. Perhaps our biggest disappointment was failure to locate

the Kupé Mountain Bush-shrike, only known from Mt Kupê. The species has not

been seen since 1951 and was described then as being very rare. Attenpts

were made to track it down by following likely calls, but all turned out to

*This paper is a slight modification of an internal Preliminary Report of

the International Council for Bird Preservation (ICBP) , to viiom due ackjiow-

ledgement is made for permission to publish. A detailed report is to follow.

6

S. N. Stuart

MALIMBUS 6

be of other species. In late April, tvo e><pedition members returned to Mt

Kupé for another effort to locate it and heard a call that could have been it;

unfortunately, they were unable to find the bird responsible. Clearly the

Kupé Mountain Bush-shrike is very rare, if it survives at all. If it is

extinct, that is probably due to natural causes since virtually no forest

clearance has taken place within its limited range. By contrast, the I^Thite-

throated Mountain Babbler was found to be reasonably common on Mt Kupé from

950 m up to the summit, and will probably survive if the forest is

adequately conserved. Other interesting species found there include the

Creen-breasted Bush-shrike, Grey-necked Picathartes and Ursula's Mouse-

coloured Sunbird Nectarinia ursulae.

From Mt Kupé the expedition moved to Mt Manengouba, a much drier area in

v\^ich forest clearance is very severe. These forests are being fragmented

as a result of fire, overgrazing by cattle and vODdcutting. Mt Manengouba

is an important site for the rare Bannerman's Weaver v\hich is still

reasonably common in the more open parts of the forest. A certain amount

of forest disturbance is probably beneficial for this species, but

unfortunately the long-term effects of both fire and overgrazing are lead-

ing to an expansion of grassland (in v\hich Bannerman's Weaver cannot survive)

at the expense of forest. Mt Manengouba is also an important site for the

Cameroon Mountain Greenbal viiich has simdlar habitat requirements.

Some useful WDrk was carried out on Mt Nlonako, not far from Kupé and

Manengouba. Nlonako is situated very close to the large town of Nkongsainba

and the northern slopes of the mountain, facing the town, have now been

largely cleared. However, extensive areas of well-preserved forest survive

over the rest of the mountain and this is probably not under any immediate

threat. Mt Nlonako had not been studied previously by ornithologists and

the expedition located 23 montane species here, including the Green-breasted

Bush-shrike, Rufous-cheeked Robin-chat, White-throated Mountain Babbler and

Grey-necked Picathartes.

The expedition worked for one week in the Rumpi Hills to the west of the

mein Cameroon mountain chain. A large area of undisturbed montane rain-

forest survives here although much of it is degraded around the villages as

a result of shifting cultivation. Much of this area is still unexplored and

inaccessible; it would repay more intensive study by ornithologists and

other biologists. Among the more interesting species to be found there are

the Cameroon Mountain Greenbul, Green-breasted Bush-shrike, I'']hite-throated

Mountain Babbler and Ursula's Mouse-coloured Sunbird. We were unfortunately

not able to find the T-Jhite-naped Pigeon Columba alhinucha , the Rumpi Hills

being its only known West African locality.

Work finished with two weeks in the Bamenda Highlands at the northern

end of the Cameroon mountain chain. Several areas were visited and the

forest conservation problems were found to be particularly severe. Through-

out the highlands the forests have become fragmented as a result of fire and

overgrazing. In many areas the forest undergrowth has been removed and

replaced with subsistence crops. In other areas, overgrazing within the

forests is so severe that no natural regeneration is taking place. It seems

inevitable that most of the Bamenda forests will have been destroyed by the

end of this century and the only area vÆiere there is any hope of establish-

ing a sizeable forest reserve is Mt Oku. Even here the forest is under very

severe threat, but reasonably extensive areas still survive. The two bird

species endemiic to the Bamenda forests, Bannerman's Turaco and the Banded

Wattle-eye, are still common in areas of suitable habitat. However, in view

1984

&meroon montane survey

7

of the severe conservation problems in the area, both species must now be

considered as critically endangered. Other interesting species found by

the ej^edition in the Bamenda Highlands include the White-headed Wœd

Hœpoe Phoeniculus bol lei, Cameroon Mountain Greenbul, Green-breasted Bush-

shrike, Black-collared Apalis Apalis pulchra, Black-throated Apalis A.

jacksoni and Bannerman*s Weaver. Another rare bird, of uncertain taxonomic

status, the Bamenda Apalis Apalis sharpii b amendas , was found by the

expedition at about 1,400 m above sea-level near Bali. This is a bird of

thickets and riparian growth at middle elevations, rather than of montane

forest. It is not clear to vhat extent the habitat of this bird is under

threat.

The ICBP Cameroon Montane Forest Survey is now producing a detailed

report of its findings which will be avail.able early in 1985. It will

include a study of avian altitudinal zonation on the southern slopes of

Mount Camerœn. ICBP is now planning two follow-up projects in Cameroon.

One is envisaged as a two-year project on Mt Oku, devising a conservation

management plan for the area. W^e also hope to send another ej^edition to

Kupé, Nlonako, the Rumpi Hills and the omithologically-unexplored Bakossi

Mountains (near Mt Kupé) . A principal aim of the project wDuld be to re-

locate the Kupê Mountain Bush-shrike.

Acknowl edgemen ts

ICBP is most grateful to the government of Cameroon, especially the

General Delegation of Scientific and Technical Research, for granting the

necessary permission to carry out this survey. We are particularly grate-

ful to rxmcan and Jane Thomas for their generosity in allowing us to use

their home in Kumba as a base throughout the duration of the expedition.

Without their kind assistance, especially with transport, the logistics of

the es^dition v«uld have been very difficult.

Dr Simon Stuart, International Council for Bird Preservation ,

219c Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 ODL , UK

Continued from page 1

moins que bi-annuelle ou bien la Société aura à envisager l'association

avec une revue plus vigoureuse. Une nouvelle incertitude vient de l'actuel

éditeur qui cherche à être relevé de son poste. La tache enrichissante de

l'éditeur s'accompagne de celles plus ennuyeuses de la production

(reproduction parfaite des originaux) et d'expédition, et deux années de

recherches n'ont encore révélé aucun candidat-éditeur ni aucun autre

arrangement viable. Le Conseil recevra avec reconnaissance le point de

vue de ses membres sur les questions soulevées ci-dessus.

8

MALIMBUS 6

EYE SIZE IN OENA AND TURTUR

by C.H. Fry

Received 1 May 1984

It has not been remarked previously that, among ground doves in the closely

allied genera Oena and Turtur, eye size varies with specific habitat. Fig.

1 shows profiles or near-profiles, drawn from photographs of living birds,

of Oena capensis (dry savannas) , Turtur afer (everoreen thickets, shady

woods in savanna), T. tympani stria (forest edges, gallery and secondary

forests) and T. brehmeri (depths of tropical rain forest) (habitats from

Urban, Fry Se Keith in prep.). Profiles have been enlarged differentially

so that head-lengths, as shown, are the same; an increase in relative size

of the eye from savanna to forest species is readily apparent. Fig. 2 shows

profiles of British Museum (Natural History) skulls 1869.4.14.2 (0.

capensis) , 1869.3.5.4 {T . afer), 1975.62.2 {T . tympanistria) and 1977.8.2

{T . brehmeri) . Measurements from these skulls are aiven in Table 1.

Specific size and skull size increase from 0. capensis or T. brehmeri

(columns 1-2) . Eye volume (6) , calculated from the mean of three orbital

diametric measures (3-5) , is nearly three times as great in T . brehmeri as

in 0. capensis. Skull volumes have not been measured, but an indication

of the relative skull sizes is given by the product of three cranial

parameters (7-9). Ratio of eye volume to estimeted skull size (10) is

low in 0. capensis (0.15), middling in T. afer and T. tympanistria (0.18)

and high in T. brehmeri (0.21).

All four of these doves are fully diurnal. Assuming that vision is a

sensory modality of comparable importance in each of them, a progressive

increase in specific eye size from brightly to poorly illuminated habitats

is an adaptive response v\iiich is only to be expected.

ACKNa^EDGEMENTS

I am indebted to Graham Cowles of the British Museum (Natural History) ,

Tring, for the preparation and loan of skulls. Fig. 1c was drawn from a

photocrraph by H. Lehaen in L. Lippens and H. Wille, 1976, Les Oiseaux du

Zaire, Lannoo Tielt, and Fig. Id from, a photograph by J. Broadbent.

REFERENCE

URBAN, E.K., FRY, C.H. & KEITH, S. (iu prep.) The Birds of Africa.

Vol. III. Academic Press, London.

C.H. Fry, University of Aberdeen, Zoology Department, Tillydrone Avenue,

Aberdeen AB9 2TN , UK

1984

E^ye size in Oena and Turtur

9

Figure 1 From top to foot, near-profiles of Oena capensis, Turtur afer, T.

tympanistria and T. brehmeri , showing different eye sizes. Left,

approximately natural size; right, redrawn to same absolute size.

Drawn from enlarged photographs.

Corrigenda

p 8 line 13 1 for ”or T. ’brehmeri” read **to T. brehmeri

p 10, replace (5) with (6) .

Table 1 Skull (mm) and other measures of Oena and Turtur species

Figure 2 Skulls of (left to right) Oena capensis, Turtur afer, T . tympanistria and T. brehmeri , all 0.83 (5/6th) nat.

size, showing relative orbit sizes (see text) .

1984

11

THE STATUS OF THE PYGMY KINGFISHER CEYX PICTA

IN NORTHEASTERN NIGERIA

by P.J. Jones

Received 2 March 1984

For a long period the migratory status of the northern race of the Pygmy

Kinafisher Ceyx picta picta was uncertain (Elqood et al. 1973), but it is

now clear, from data assembled by Wilkinson (1982) , that in West Africa it

is present throughout the year only south of about 9ON and is a rains

migrant into more northern latitudes. This paper presaits data on

migration, moult and breeding status from the Molai Reserve near

Maiduguri, NE Nigeria (11°50'N, 1 3*^09 'E) , ^nere the Pygmy Kingfisher is

present only during the rains (Hall 1977) .

Between Septenber 1973 and September 1975 the late Peter Ward and I

carried out standardised bird counts every week at Molai and once a month

at 1®“latitude intervals north and south of Maiduguri. Over approximately

the same period I mistnetted Pygmy Kingfishers on a casual basis within the

Molai Reserve, always at the same net site, and routinely recorded weight,

bill colour (as a guide to aae) , primary moult and any indication of

breeding status (e.g. incubation patch) . The birds were not ringed but

were marked with permanent dye on the throat in order to identify retraps.

We recorded Pyamy Kingfishers at Molai only between mid-May and the

second week of November and this was corroborated by Hall (1977) wcrking

there during the same period. I'tiat was probably part of the northverd

migration in May was witnessed by P. Ward at Song (9°49'N, 1 2*^37 'E) , viien

at 0600 h on 9 May 1974 a group of 8 fully-grown kingfishers "shot past

like bullets" and landed a little way ahead of him, followed, by three

groups of 2-3 birds soon after. None had been present in the area the day

before, nor throughout the preceding dry season. Some stayed to breed at

Song, since I observed an adult feeding a juvenile there on 22 July.

The breeding season of the Pygmy Kingfisher in West Africa is long,

usually beainning in the south in March (with a record as early as January

in Yaounde, Cameroun, pers. obs.) , but not until much later in the north

of its ranae, from June or July until October (Fry in press) . Althouah we

did not find any nests at f^lai there was other evidence of breeding.

Copulation was seen on 27 June and the earliest newly fledged juvenile was

seen being fed by its parent on 9 Septenber. Other juveniles with

completely black beaks, vÆiich v/ere probably under two months old (Hanmer

1930) , were seen frequently at Miolai in September, October and up to the

middle of November, after which all Pygmy Kingfishers had disappeared from

the M-aiduguri area.

IVx5 immature birds netted in mid-October weighed 15.0 cr and 15.9 g.

These were markedly heavier than the overall mean weight for fully-grown

birds (m.ean of 65 adults and immatures 12.4 g + 0.9 g S.D.; all dusk

weights) and were carrying extensive visible deposits of subcutaneous fat,

presumably in preparation for their imminent return migration southwards.

12

P. J. Jones

MALIMBUS 6

Out of 44 fully-grown birds captured at liolai 34 (77%) were ininatures

with adult plumage but bills vM.ch were either dusky red or red with a

blackish tip and base. If the colour changes in the bill of this northern

race proceed in the same way as in the southern African subspecies, these

birds were probably mostly about one year old, though some may have been

approaching tvx) (Hanmer 1980 and in litt.) , These yearlings moulted

(i.e. their second conplete moult) during the time they spent at this

latitude but only one apparently older adult, with a coirpletely red bill,

was recorded doing so.

The primaries of Pygmy Kingfishers moult descendently in two groups,

PI -6 and P7-10 (Hanmer 1980). The mean sequence for 27 îtolai birds was

71 238459610 but with much individual variation (cf. Hanmer

loc. cit.) , For most immatures moult began in June or July and was

carpleted in October (Fig. 1). This is consistent with the duration of

about 120 days for primary moult found by Hanmer, and matches the moulting

season of immature Pygmy Kingfishers on the Equator in Uganda (Okia 1976) .

The exceptions were a few that started moult very late and wDuld not have

completed it before migrating south in October or November. Another bird

evidently began moult very early but had arrested it by mid-June with new

PI and P7.

It is very unlikely that any of the birds in active moult betvzeen July

and October at îtolai would also have been breeding there. All these birds

were caught at the same clurfp of bushes, often 4 or 5 birds together, but I

am confident that few, if any, were caught more than once. These yearlings

were therefore not territorial and probably ranged widely. Although it is

conceivable that some might have nested already further south before

migrating north, I think it more likely that immatures do not breed in

their first year. A similar influx of immatures evidently occurs in Uganda

during the middle of the year, vhen most individuals caught ty Okia (1976)

had dark beaks and immature gonads, and many were in moult.

The status of the few immatures at Isolai that did not moult with the

majority is more uncertain. The bird that arrested at the start of tlie

rains there in June may have done so in order to breed. However, I doubt

that those that did not begin until Septanber or October had delayed it

in order to make a breeding attempt. I think it more likely that they were

much younger birds and that the wide variation in moult dates reflects

variation in the timing of hatching and post-juvenile moult the season

before. The natal area of these birds is unknown but it is tempting to

speculate that the earlier moulting immatures were bom during the early

part of the breeding season in the southern part of the range, viiile the

late-moulting birds had hatched later in the north, perhaps locally.

Almost all (8 out of 9) of the mature adults with completely red bills

were caught in June and early July, vAien kingfishers were probably still

migrating into the area and before breeding territories were established.

None of these was yet in moult (Fig. 1) but if they had come to breed, as

is likely, they would not have moulted until breeding was finished in

Septeimber or October and possibly not until they had returned south.

The rainy season at 12*^, from May to October, therefore provides

micrrant Pygmy Kinafishers with sufficiently good conditions for adults to

1984

Ceyx picta in Nigeria

13

50

40

!:

O 20

s

O

♦

o o

o

10

♦ ♦ ♦

m *

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEPT

OCT

Figure 1 Primary noult of the Pygmy Kinafisher in NE Nigeria. The growth

of each primary was scored from 0 (old) to 5 (new) , totalling 50 at

corrpletion of noult. Adults (♦) ; immatures ; not aged (o) .

breed and yearlings to noult before returning south. We may speculate

whether the Pygmy Kingfishers breeding at Molai might be 'itinerant

breeders' {sensu Ward 1971), i.e. 'Aether these birds might already have

bred successfully further south earlier in the rains before coming north.

There ^^ould have been anple time for thonn to have done so.

ACKNCWLEDGEMENTS

I am greatly indebted to my late colleague Peter Ward for his stimulating

companionship and œllaboration over many years in the field during this

and other studies. I also wish to thanlc Jo Fisher and Wolfgang Kinzelbach

for help with mistnetting and Hilary Fry for canraenting on the manuscript.

REFEPFNCES

FRY, C.H. (in press) Ceyx picta African ^gmy Kingfisher, in ^The

Birds of Africa' Vol. 3. Eds. E.K. Urban, C.H. Fry, & S. Keith.

Acadannic Press, London

14

P. J. Jones

MALIMBUS 6

HALL, P. (1977) The birds of Maiduguri. Bull. Nigerian Orn. Soc. 43:

15-36

HAMMER, D.B, (1980) Mensural and noult data of eight species of king-

fisher fran Mogambique and Malawi. Ostrich 51: 129-150

OKIA, N.O, (1976) Birds of the understory of lake-shore forests on the

Entebbe Peninsula, Uganda, ibis 118: 1-13

WARD, P. (1971) The mioration patterns of Quelea quelea in Africa, Ibis

113: 275-297

IVILKINSOM, R. (1982) Seasonal movements of the Kingfisher Ceyx

picta in West Africa. Malimbus At 53-4, 108

Dr P.J. Jones, Dept, of Forestry & Natural Resources , University

of Edinburgh , Kings Buildings , Edinburgh EH9 3JU , UK

Long- tailed Shrike Oorvinella corvina, The Gambia, Photos Michael Gore

1984

15

FURTHER BIRD REœRDS FROM THE REPUBLIC OF TOGO

by Robert A. Cheke and J. Frank Walsh

Received 30 January 1984

During 1983 R.A.C. was in Togo from late May until the end of July and

J.F.W. made a short trip in June^ visits ^ich provided opportunities for

us to augment our previous records from Togo (Cheke & Walsh 1980, Cheke

1982a) . During his stay J.F.W, travelled the length of the country from

the Upper Volta border to the coast. R.A.C. was again based in Lama-Kara

but made a number of excursions, including a visit to a forested area near

Badou .

Species yiich we had not previously noted are marked with asterisks

in the list #iich follows. Other records are those of unconroon species,

breeding, large flocks, known migrants, records omitted from the earlier

papers and some of birds seen by George and Wilma Bouraan (G. & W.B.) , who

have resided in Lama-Kara for mare than two years. All dates refer to 1983

unless otherwise stated, and the coordinates of named sites are listed in

the appendix. The sequence and nomenclature follow Hall & MDreau (1970)

and Snow (1978).

Phalacrocorax africanus Several seen at pœls between Naboulgou and

Sansanne-Mango on 12 June.

Ardeola ralloides One north of Naboulgou on 12 June.

Egretta garzetta Two near Naboulgou on 12 June.

Ciconia abdimii Two near Sansanne-Mango on 27 May and 12 June.

Dendrocygna viduata îtore than 500 near Sansanne-Mango on 29 July.

Nettapus auritus Three near Sansanne-Mango on 3 June and four near

Naboulgou on 29 July,

*Thalassornis leuconotus On 17 November 1981 in the MDno river at 07°

09 'N, 01° 27 'E, R.A.C. noticed a water-bird, whose body was low in the

water, vhich was at first sight taken to be a grebe but when examined

through binoculars it was clearly a small duck without any obvious tail,

nostly dark brown but with distinctly paler cheeks and scoter-like bill.

It did not take flight but swam methodically towards one bank holding its

head and neck up yet tilted backwards, but also it kept bobbing its head

up and dOMi in a jerky display until it reached the bank where it

disappeared under some over-hanging vegetation, r. leuconotus is usually

only found much further north in West Africa îxit it is possible that this

and other birds had been forced south by drought conditions at the tiræ.

The rainfall over much of the region during October 1981 was less than a

third of the oguivalent figure for 1980 (Cheke & Garms 1983) and drought

conditions have persisted over much of West Africa since 1968 (Lamb 1982,

Nicholson 1983).

*Circaetus cinereus One north of Barkoissi on 12 June and one near

Naboulgou on 29 July,

C. cinerascens One near Naboulgou on 12 June,

16

R. A. Cheke & J. F. Walsh

MALIKBUS 6

*Accipiter melanoleucus An adult near Tchebebe on 20 July. No recent

records but Reichenhow (1897) refers to one at Bisnnarkburg, vAiich was near

Katchanke and only about 40 km S.W. of Tchebebe.

Lophaetus occipitalis One near Landa-Pozanda in December 1982 (G. & W.B.).

Polemaetus bellicosus One near Naboulgou on 3 June and other single birds

at Djamde on 5 June and at Bagan on 5 & 25 July.

Aquila rapax Two at Fazao on 13 June,

Haliaetus vocifer One near Bagan on 26 July.

*Aviceda cuculoides Six seen soaring in the northern part of the Reran

reseirve near Sansanne-Mango on 3 June. Recorded by De Roo et al, (1969) .

Falco peregrinus One near Cinkanse on 3 June.

F. ardosiaceus One seen regularly near Landa-Pozanda during June and July.

In early June one was seen flying purposefully back and forth from, a site

and was once carrying a small snake and so may have been nesting.

F. alopex One south of Pewa on 10 June.

Francolinus bicalcaratus Abundant. One v;as seen with young near Landa-

Pozanda on 8 July.

Podica senegalensis One in the Na river near Sokode on 15 June, one in the

Gban-Houa river at Djodji on 19 July and one in the Mo river near Bagan on

25 July.

Balearica pavonina Two on the plain beside the Oti river near Sansanne-

Mango on 12 June (G. & W.B.) and five there on 29 July.

Vanellus spinosus A pair south of Sansanne-l'lango on 12 June.

Charadrius forbesi Two at Landa-Pozanda on 18 June and on there on 22 June.

*Glareola cinerea One hawking for insects beside the Oti river, v^ich was

then dry and sandy, near Sansanne-Mango on 27 May.

G. nuchal is liberiae At least two pairs were at the site on the Kara river

near Landa-Pozanda described by Cheke (1980, 1982b) from late May until the

end of July. Two ecrgs were found near each other on 29 May. The remains

of one of these was found on 10 June but vÆiether a chick had hatched from

it is uncertain. The second egg was seen to be incubated, briefly, on 12

June, was still present on 24 June but had disappeared by 1 July. It may

have been addled. Five adults were seen on 29 May, 9, 15 & 24 July and a

sixth bird was also present on 9 July but it was not seen well enough to be

sure of its age.

*sterna maxima Four seen near Lome on 8 June, Recorded by Browne (1980).

Treron calva One near Landa-Pozanda on 16 July and two there on 24 July.

*clamator jacobinus Three near Sansanne-Mango on 29 July. Recorded from

Togo in August 1968 by De Roo et ai. (1969) .

c. levaillantii One at Pewa on 11 June and twD near Landa-Pozanda on 16

July.

Cuculus solitarius Heard calling at Djamde on 5 June and Pewa on 11 June.

C. gularis One near Dapaon on 12 June and one 10 km south of Kande on 3 July.

Chrysococcyx klaas Two near Landa-Pozanda on 24 July.

c. caprius Heard calling at Lome on 8 June, Landa-Pozanda on 11 June,

Naboulgou 12 June and Badou 19 July.

1984

Togo records

17

*Ceuthmochares aereus One near Tomeabe on 19 July. Recorded by Dekeyser

(1951) r Douaud (1956) and De Roo et al. (1971, 1972).

*otus leucotis One seen between Landa-Pozanda and Laroa-Kara on 11 June.

Recorded by De Roo et ai. (1969, 1971) and by De îtoo (1970).

Glaucidium perlatum One heard near Landa-Pozanda on 24 July.

*Caprimulgus aegyptius At 1850 hours after dusk on 10 June we both saw four

smallish nightjars on the dirt road between Landa-Pozanda and Lama-Kara.

The birds were not together but shared the habit of squatting beside the

road and, in the dazzle of vehicle head-lights, allowed themselves to be

approached closely. None were seen the following night but at 1905 hours

on 12 June, R.A.C. observed one there again. The following composite

description led to our identification of them as Egyptian nightjars. Small,

delicate-featured nightjar lacking any bold markings. Crown, nape, wing

coverts and back grey. Face pale grey with contrasting much paler cheeks

and lores. No collar. Throat and chin pale grey contrasting with darker

grey breast. Cream coloured or favzn supercilium stretching above eye from

lores to front of ear coverts. Eye dark. Eye-ring pinkish red. Bill

mostly dark but very pale at base. Legs and feet pale grey. Grey parts

of body plimage finely barred and vermiculated with black but lacking

stripes. Cream or fawn stripe on either side of back \dien wings folded.

Two dark wing bars formed by markings on upper wing coverts and secondai'ies .

Outer primaries with at least eight black bars interspersed with rufous

broOTi. All of under-surface of wings pale grey, finely barred with black.

No ^ite on the wing seen in flight. Tail short; end almost square but

with rounded comers. Central tail feathers grey, finely barred and

vermiculated with black. Outer tail feathers with at least five dark

blotches separated by bold v\^ite or very pale grey patches. Folded wings

almost as long as tail.

The overall grey rather than sandy appearance suggests c. a. aegyptius

rather than c. a. saharae. The exceptionally dry conditions prevalent

in early 1983 and the late start to the rainy season may have accounted

for these birds being so far out of their previously recorded range. The

species* range may be altering as a result of the persistent droughts

(Lamb 1982, Nicholson 1983).

No nightjars were seen after dusk along the same route on 7 and 11 J'lne

nor thereafter, suggesting that the birds v^ich were seen were moving

through the area.

*Macrodipteryx longipennis Tiany seen near Kande in March and April by

G. & W.B., who also saw one near Landa-Pozanda in ^ril. Recorded from

Togo by De Roo (1970) and De Roo et al. (1971, 1972).

Telacanthura ussheri Two at Djodji on 20 July.

*Apus apus On 22 May, R.A.C. , Dr J. Grünewald and Dr M. Karam had seen a

flock of more than 200 over a lake at Loumbila near Ouagadougou in Upper

Volta but the passage continued even later as the following records from

Upper Volta and Togo show. On 27 ?iay at 1120 hours about 120 were seen

near Tenkodogo in Upper Volta, flying on the edge of a rainstorm (see

Moreau 1972 for remarks on swifts and storms) and another 20 were seen at

Bitou, still in Upper Volta. However at the Cinkanse border post, in Togo,

at 1345 hours 200 or more swifts were seen flying round and round a micro-

wave tower, screaming as they did so. 3 June about 40 were seen in the

Naboulgou area and another six were observed at Sara-Kawa on 4 June.

A. caffer. Singles at Naboulgou on 3 June, Landa-Pozanda on 4 June, Tot Ira

on 3 July and a party of 20 at Pewa on 11 Jme.

18

R. A. Cheke & J. F. Walsh

MALIMBUS 6

A. melba (treated as Tachymarptis melba by Snow 1978) On 3 June J.F.W. saw

one together with 20 A. apus at Naboulgou and a further 100 A. melba together

with another 20 A. apus and a single A. caffer a few kilometres further south.

These birds were feeding and no direction of movement was noted but the

A. melba were very grey birds, paler than those seen in Europe suggesting

that they were A. m. tuneti: if so, this would support ÎAoreau (1972) vho

stated that since this subspecies leaves the Maahreb in September it must

enter tropical Africa. At 1815 hours on 1 July ’^.A.C. saw at least 60

A. melba at Landa-Pozanda . These birds were movina across the Kara river

in small parties, pausing to feed over the river and above the gallery

forest just above tree height, and disappeared in a northward direction,

away from an on-coming storm front. The failing evening light prevented

attenpts at sub-specific identification. See Cheke (1982a) for discussion

of other Togolese records.

Ceryle maxima One at Landa-Pozanda on 4 and 11 June and on 22 July.

Halcyon senegalensis One at Djodji on 20 July.

*H. malimbica Between 0730 and 0820 hours on 20 July, two were watched at

Djodji. They were displaying to each other on a branch near the top of a

tree by opening and shutting their wings in quick succession. One of the

birds was more persistent with its displays than the other. At one stage

on H. senegalensis (see above) landed on the end of the same branch but,

after having both looked at it the H. malimbica carried on regardless with

their displays. Later only one H. malimbica remained on the branch vhere

it continued to display on its own and occasionally uttered raucous cries,

typical of the species. Another was seen on the same day near Badou and on

29 July another was observed at Naboulgou in gallery forest beside the

Koumongou river. Although opened-wing displays are well known in Halcyon,

Fry (1980) stated that they had not yet been described for H. malimbica.

Merops pusillus One at Pewa on 11 June.

M. albicollis On 8 June about 50 were seen on the coast close to the

border with Benin. One at Bafilo on 10 June and 70 flying north and

circlincr in a thermal above Bafil.o the next day.

M. nubicus Twenty, perched on wires 10 km north of Sansanne-Mango on 12 June.

Coracias abyssinica Two at Sansanne-Mango on 27 May and singles near

Naboulgou on 3 June, at Landa-Pozanda on 4 June and 10 km south of Dapaon on

12 June.

c. cyanogaster A pair near Landa-Pozanda on 15 and 16 July.

*Bucorvus abyssiniens A pair seen 15 km south of Bagan on 5 July.

*Tropicranus albocristatus One in thick forest near Tomegbe on 19 July,

Recorded from. Togo by Dekeyser (1951) and De Roo et al. (1971).

*Gymnobucco calvus A party of six seen at Djodji on 20 July.

Pogoniulus chrysoconus This species was inadvertently listed as P. pusillus

in Cheke & Nalsh (1980 part 2), reproducing the transposition error in Snow

(1978) , pointed out by Snow (1979) .

*lndicator indicator One calling near Bafilo on 1 1 June. Recorded by De Roo

et al. (1971) .

Dendropicos fuscescens Three records during July from near Landa-Pozanda.

Hirundo lue id a One at Djamde on 5 June, three near Rafd.lo and four at Lama-

Kara on 11 June, one at Sara-Kawa on 3 July, two at Fazao on 6 July, four

near Landa-Pozanda on 16 July and one there on 24 July.

198^

Togo records

19

H. senegalensis One at Pewa on 1 1 June|. twD near Landa-Pozanda on 24 June

and a pair at Badou on 19 July.

abyssinica About twenty pairs nested under a bridge at Titira in June

and July. Also many records from the Lam-Kara area in May~July.

H. fuligula Several in the Aledjo area^ mid-June.

H. preussi More than fifty feeding over the Oti river near Sansanne-Mango

on 27 May and three there on 29 July. Several near Naboulgou on 12 June.

Nests present under the bridge over the Feran river at Titira on 3 July but

no adults seen.

Psalidoprocne obscura Thxee 20 km south of Bagan on 5 July.

Macronyx croceus Two near Landa-Pozanda on 18 June.

Motacilla aguimp A pair seen carrying food at Lama-Kara on 11 June and

juveniles seen amongst the many presents at Badou on 19 July.

Campephaga phoenicea A single male seen near Landa-Pozanda on 7 June and

15 & 24 July.

Chlorocichla flavicollis Two near Landa-Pozanda on 16 July and one there

on 24 July.

Cercomela familiaris Two at Pewa on 11 June and one north of Defale on 3

July.

Myrmecocichla cinnamomeiventris A white-crowied male seen at Djamde on 5

June and another with a f erale at Pewa on 1 1 June .

Cossypha albicapilla One near Landa-Pozanda on 16 July.

Turdus pelios One of a pair seen repeatedly collecting worms and flying to

a presumed nest site at Lama-Kara on 11 Jiine,

*Luscinia megarhynchos One at Djamde on 5 June, a very late date. Recorded

by Browne (1980), De Roo (1970) and De Roo et ai. (1972).

Sphenoeacus mentalis One seen singing near Landa-Pozanda on 16 & 24 July.

*cisticola erythrops One at Lama-Kara on 4 June and another near Landa-

Pozanda on 16 July. Recorded by Brov/ne (1980), De Roo et al. (1969, P-'71 ,

1972) and De Roo (1970) .

C. natalensis C^e singing at Sara-Kawa on 4 June.

C. brachyptera One singing near Lama-Kara from 3 June until at least 14

July.

c. aberrans TwD, one singing, Djand.e on 5 June and one, also singing,

at Pewa on 11 June.

c. galactotes Singing at Landa-Pozanda on 4 & 5 June,

Heliolais erythroptera Present at Pewa on 11 June,

Sylvietta brachyura One at Djamde on 5 June.

Melaenornis edoloides One near Lama-Kara from 8 July until at least 27 July.

Batis senegalensis One at Pewa on 1 1 June.

Anthreptes collaris One at Djamde on 5 June.

Nectarinia pulchella A male in eclipse plumage at Pewa on 11 June.

*N . adelberti A pair at Badou on 19 July. Recordai by De Poo et al.

(1969) .

20

R. A. Caneke & J. F. Walsh

MALIMBUS 6

Ember iza tahapsi One at Pêwa on 11 June.

Ploceus velatus One near Landa-Pozanda on 16 and 24 July.

P. heuglini A pair near Landa-Pozanda on 16 & 24 July.

P, luteolus One near Sansannê-Mango on 29 July.

*P. nigricollis brachypterus A femle at Badou on 19 July. Recorded by

Browne (1990), De Roo et al. (1969, 1971) and De Roo (1970).

*Malimbus rubricollls A male seen near Toraegbe on 19 July. Recorded by

De Roo et ai . (1971 , 1972) .

Lagonosticta rara A pair at Péwa on 1 1 June.

Lonchura cucullata Blood smears taken from a bird found freshly dead near

Lama-Kara in July were examined by M.A. Peirce and showed that the bird

had been parasitised with Atoxoplasma sp and Haemoproteus orizivorae .

*L. bicolor A pair seen on the coast near Lomé on 8 June. Recorded by De

Roo et ai. (1969, 1971, 1972) and De Roo (1970).

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster A male seen at Péwa on 11 June and a pair at

Landa-Pozanda on the same date.

Acknowl edgemen ts

We are very grateful to George and Wilma Bouman for their records and to

fl.A. Peirce for his identifications of the blood parasites from the Bronze

Mannikin.

Summary

Records of birds of interest seen in Togo, mostly during the 1983 wet

season, are provided. These include information on 23 species ^ich were

not included in previous lists by the authors (Cheke & Walsh 1980, Cheke

1982) .

Résumé

Renseignements sur des oiseaux intéressants vus au Togo, la plupart pendant

1983 en saison des pluies, sont donnés. 23 espèces présentées ne furent

pas inclues dans des listes déjà publiées par les auteurs (Cheke et Walsh

1980, Cheke 1982).

1984

GAZETTEER

Aledjo

Badou

Bafilo

Bagan

Barkoissi

Bitou (Upper Volta)

Cinkanse

Dapaon

Defale

Djarrdê

Djodji

Fazao

Kandé

Katchanké

Lama-Kara

Landa-Pozanda

Lomé

Naboulgou

Ouagadougou (Upper Volta)

Pewa

Sara-Kawa

Sokodé

Sansanné-Mango

Tenkodogo (Upper Volta)

Tchêbébê

Titira

Tomegbe

Togo records

References

BROï'ÆÆ, P.W.P. (1980) Birds observed near Lomé, Togo in 1976 and 1977.

Malimhus 2: 51-55

CHEKE, R.A. (1980) A small breeding colony of the Rock Pratincole

Glareola nuchalis liberiae in Togo. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. lOOî 175-

178

CHEKE, R.A. (1982a) More bird records from the Republic of Togo.

Malimbus 4: 55-63

CHEKE, R.A. (1982b) Additional information on the Rock Pratincole

Glareola nuchalis in Togo. Bull. Brit, Orn. Cl. 102: 116-117

CHEECE, R.A. & GART-IS, R. (1983) Reinfestations of the southeastern flank

of the Onchocerciasis Control Programme area by windbome vectors.

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B 302: 471-484

CHEKE, R.A. & I^SH, J.F. (1980) Bird records from the Republic of Togo.

Malimbus 2: 112-120

DEKEYSER, P.L. (1951) Mission A. Villiers au Togo et au Dahomey (1950).

Ill Oiseaux. Etudes Dahoméennes 5: 47-84

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.

81: 163-172

21

R. A. Cheke & J. F. Walsh MALIMBUS 6

DE ROO, A., DE VREE, F. & VERHEYEN, W. (1969) Contribution à 1 ' omitholonie

de la République du Togo. Rev. Zool . Bot. Afr. 79: 309-322

DE ROO, A., DE VREE, F. & VAN DER STRAETEN, E. (1972) Contribution à

1 ' omitholocfie de la République du Togo. 4. Oiseaux récoltés par

la troisième Mission zoologique belge. Rev. Zool. Bot. Afr. 86:

374-384

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 du Togo (Afrique occidentale).

Notes d'un voyage dans l'Adèle. Alauda 24: 221-227

FRY, C.H. (1980) The origin of Afrotropical kingfishers, ibis 122: 57-72

LA?'®, P. J. (1982) Persistence of subsaharan drought. Nature, Lond. 299:

46-48

MOREAU, R.E. (1972) The Palaearctic-African Bird Migration Systems.

Academie Press. London and New York

NICHOLSON, S.E. (1983) Sub-Saharan rainfall in the years 1976-80:

evidence of a continued drouaht. Monthly leather Review 111: 1646-

1654

REICHENHCW, A. (1897) Zur vogelfauna von TOgo. J. Ornith. 45: 1-57

SNOW, D.W. (1979) Atlas of spéciation in African non-passerine birds -

Addenda and Corrigenda. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 99: 66-68

Dr R.A. Cheke , c/o Tropical Development and Research Institute ,

College House, Wrights Lane, London W8 5SJ , UK

J.F. Walsh, 80 Arundel Road, Lytham St. Annes , Lancashire FY8 IBN , UK

Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis, The Gambia. Photos Michael Gore

1984

23

ASPECTS OF THE BREEDING BIOLOGY OF CARMINE AND LITTLE

BEE-EATEPS AT ZARIA, NIGERIA

by Michael Dyer

Received 24 April 1984

Of the 14 Meropidae foimd in West Africa, only one, the Red- throated Bee-

eater Merops bullocki, has been studied in any detail (Fry 1972, 1973;

Dyer 1983) . For most species a little is known of habitat, breeding

season, migration and diet (see references in Fry 1973) , but because of

their hole-nesting habit, few data are available on perinatal biology, i.e.

incubation period, nestling growth and development, nestling mortality ■ and

fledging success. During an intensive study of the perinatal biology of

M. bullocki at Zaria, (11®03'N, 07°42*E), northern Nigeria, I had the

opportunity to study also Gamine and Little Bee-eaters M. nubicus and

M. pusillus. This paper outlines some previously unrecorded aspects of the

breeding bioloqy of these two bee-eaters.

STUDY AREA AND METHODS

The study was undertaken from 25 April to 12 June 1976 and from 19 May to

17 June 1980, on the River Galma 5 km. southeast of Zaria. Vegetation

consisted mainly of a uniformly dense growth of 1-2 m high Mimosa pygra

edging a heavily grazed and cultivated floodplain with a mosaic of degraded

thorny shrubs {Acacia, Balanites , Dicrostachys , Ziziphus) and scattered

trees {Parkia clappertoniana , Khaya senegalensis , Mangifera indica) .

In both years a colony of M. nubicus, estimated to contain 400 breeding

pairs, nested in the south bank of the river. In 1976 data on clutch size,

hatching success, brood reduction and nestling growth were obtained from

17 nests by constructina an observation trench (Fry 1972) behind a 7-m long

section of the colony. Due to lindted time available in 1980, observations

on M. nubicus were made only between 29 May and 3 June, and confined to

recording food items brought to nestlings by adults. Insects carried in

adults' bills were identified as to Order, occasionally Family, with a 20 x

telescope from, a hide situated 10 m from the colony. A 20 sq. m area of

steeply sloping cliff, on ^lich provisioning adults settled tefore entering

their nests, was scanned every 10 min over five 1-h observation periods, to

identify insects held in the birds' bills.

Pairs of M. pusillus nested every 50 m. or so along the banks of the Galma,

and entry into their nests was facilitated by excavating a small hole (Dyer

& Crick 1983) behind each of them. 12 nests were studied in 1976, and twD

in 1980. All were opened before the onset of eag-laying (Pereas m. nubicus

clutches were already conpleted when nest-chambers were first examined) .

Thus I could determine the pusillus incubation period by markina

individual eggs.

Nests of both species were visited daily to record the fate of clutches,

determine hatching periods, weigh nestlings, and document nestling

24

M. Dyer

MAIIMBUS 6

nortality. Weights were taken with either a 50-g or 100-g Pesola spring

balance.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Clutch size and incubation period

For M. pusillus eight clutches of 4 and six of 5 were recorded (mean, 4.4);

for M. nubicus eight conpleted clutches of 2 and seven of 3 were found

(mean, 2.5) . Clutches of 2 have not previously been docimented for M.

nubicus, yet they comprised nearly half the sample.

In asynchronously hatching clutches like those of bee-eaters, it is

difficult to determine the incubation period unless the day of laying and

hatching of each egg in the clutch is recorded. By marking eggs, the

incubation period of M. pusillus was found to be 22 + 1 days. However,

McLachlan & Liversidae (1978) give its period in South Africa as 28-29 days,

a remarkable difference if correct.

Hatching asynchrony and brood reduction

Asynchronous hatching of eggs in bee-eater clutches yields nestlings of

different ages. In M. bullocki , for example, eggs hatch at approximately

24 h intervals (Fry 1972, Dyer 1983) , so that a 3-egg clutch hatches over a

2-day period. Asynchronous hatching provides a mechanism by which

competitive differeaices arise amongst siblings, so that if food becomes

limiting, parents may selectively starve younger and weaker siblings and

bring the number of young they can adequately nourish into line with avail-

able food resources (O'Connor 1978). This is known as 'brood reduction'.

M. pusillus eggs at Zaria hatched on average at less than 24 h intervals

(Table 1) . In 10 clutches the first and second eggs laid hatched on the

same day, indicatina that incubation began after the second egg was

deposited. The general trend in clutches of M. pusillus is that of

increased hatching intervals between later-laid eggs, a pattern found to a

imuch imore marked degree in the Australian Bee-eater M. ornatus (Dyer &

Gartshore, in prep.). By contrast, eggs in M. nubicus clutches hatched on

average at two-day intervals, so that a clutch of 3 took a day longer to

hatch than a 5-egg clutch of m. pusillus (Table 1).

Hatching success was 98% for M. pusillus and 86% for M. nubicus. Only

one M. pusillus egg did not hatch - the fifth in a clutch of 5. Single

M. nubicus eggs in three c/3 clutches and tMD c/2 clutches failed to

hatch. In one of the latter, the nestling that emerged was severely

deformed: it lacked eyes, its mandibles were crossed, and feet and toes

were badly deformed.

Starvation mortality through brood reduction was not recorded in any

M. pusillus nests. But in one brood of four, the third-hatched nestling

suddenly died of no apparent cause, at age 12 days. I believe that brood

reduction does occur sometimes in M. pusillus, but perhaps only v^en food

1984

Biology of bee-eaters

25

(6) 1H9I3M

AGE (days)

Figure 1 Growth to age 15 days of six broods of 2 and four broods of 3

M. nubicus. Ist-hatched nestling—? 2nd-hatched----; 3rd-

hatched ; died + .

26

M. Dyer

MALIMBUS 6

Table 1 Intervals (mean days + S.D.) between hatching of successive eggs,

and overall hatching periods in clutches of M. nubiens and M, pusillus

Figure 2 Growth of two broods of M. pusillus. Brood A with 5 young,

Brood B with 4. Ist-hatched nestling ' - ; 2nd-hatched---

3rd-hatched — 4th-hatched ; 5th-hatched— — .

1984

Biology of bee-eaters

27

is scarce after heavy and continual early wet-season stornis, or in late and

enduring periods of 'harmattan'. By contrast, brood reduction was found in

all six M. nubicus broods initially containing three young: in five the

third-hatched nestling died, and in the sixth only the oldest nestling

survived. Normally brood reduction occurred by the time the oldest sibling

was six days old; by then a difference in weight of as much as 25 g

existed between the eldest and youngest siblings. In one brood, the third-

hatched nestling survived until day 13. All broods of twD were reared

successfully.

In M. pus il lus large clutches, and the 24 h egg-hatching interval, may

represent one end of a continuum of brood reduction strategies in bee-

eaters. Small clutches and long egg-hatching intervals, as found in

M, nubicus, may represent the other end. The small M. pusillus (14 g)

presumably exploits a diverse and abundant source of small-bodied insects,

and pairs of adults can raise large broods most of the time. However,

asynchronous hatching, even to a small degree, gives parents an option f(3r

brood reduction vhen conditions dictate it. M. nubicus (51 g) may be

somev\^at of a specialist on orthopterans and other large insects (Fry

1984) that could be patchy in distribution and abundance. Thus, with

unpredictable food resources, brood reduction wDuld commonly occur, to

facilitate v\Æiich, a long hatching interval has evolved.

Nestling growth and behaviour

The grovTtli of M. nubicus and M. pusillus is similar to that of M. bullocki

(Dyer 1983) - a typical sigmoid curve characterised by nestling weights

exceeding those of adults. In M. nubicus (Fig. 1) the heaviest nestling

was 67.1 g, and they generally attained weights 20% in excess of adult

weight. Due to the twD-day hatching interval, divergence in nestling

growtli was conspicuous, with early-hatched siblings growing faster and

heavier than later-hatched ones. Daily increments in weight were

initially 3--4 g, and increased to 8.0 g by day 8. The greatest daily

weight gain recorded was 9.6 g. In broods of 3, the four day difference

in hatching between oldest and youngest nestlings resulted in deaths of

the latter (Fig. 1). FVen in broods of 2, growth of the younger nestling

lagged considerably behind that of the older. For example, by day 9, 1st-

hatched nestlings were 68% of adult weight ^en 2nd-hatched ones were only

50%.

Fig. 2 shows the growth of a brood of 5 (Brood A) and of 4 (Brood B)

M. pusillus. Neither has much divergence in individual growth rates.

Greater weights were attained in B than in A.

The nestling period of M. pusillus was 23 ± 1 days. During this time

nestlings generally renained confined to the nest-chamber. Occasionally

^en the brood was close to fledging, one or two nestlings would shuffle

down the nest-tunnel to be fed, but none were ever observed being fed at

the nest-entrance.

It was difficult to ascertain the nestling period of M. nubicus because

of the propensity of older nestlings to leave the nest prematurely when

nest-chambers were opened to extract nestlings for weighing. Prematurely-

28

M. Dyer

MALIMBUS 6

departed nestlings sometimes returned to the nest-chamber for up to four

days after a one- or two-day absence. By and large, young remained in the

nest at least 23 days before atterrpting to fly. Conpared to m. bullocki

and M. pusillus, M. nubicus nestlings were very active and mobile in the

nest-chamber. At 12-15 days they often moved down the nest-tunnel and

mandibulated discarded insects on the chamber floor. Fully-feathered

siblings took turns to be fed at the tunnel entrance, protruding head and

foreparts out into the open, (I once counted 141 protruding nestlings

waiting to be fed.) If b/O adjacent nests were close enough, nestlings

wDuld 'fence' bills with each other and show other aggressive behaviour.

I^en Black Kites Milvus migrans passed close to the nestincr cliff-face,

nestlings quickly retreated down their tunnels.

Food of nestling Carmine Bee-eaters

35 counts of insect food items were made, 7 in each of five 1-hour observa-

tion period. The maxiroum number of insects recorded on each count ranged

from 11 to 32. Not all insects could be identified; some were either too

small and/or too badly battered. Insects (N=586) of eight orders were

identified. Numerically, the most irrportant of these were Orthoptera,

Hymenoptera and Odonata, accounting for 447 insects or 80% of the total

(Fig. 3). In an analysis of the diet of adult M. nubicus Fry (1973)

found cortparatively few orthopterans ; they comprised <1 0% of nestling

food. Those values may have been depressed, by large numbers of termites

and flying ants in the analysis, but Fry (ioc. cit.) considered that by

weight orthopterans coiprised 50% of the diet.

M. nubicus is highly opportunistic when feeding nestlings, taking in

large numbers viiatever prey may be temporarily abundant (Fry 1984) . That

may account for the large representation of odonates in the Zaria sample

(Od.onata were not recorded in the adult diet by Fry, 1973) . Acridid

grasshoppers totalled 39% of all insects fed to nestlings. Large numbers

of venoimous Hymenoptera were also recorded. J^tost bees and wasps could not

be identified, but I suspected that most of the 109 indeterminate insects

in Fig. 3 were honey-bees Apis mellifera.

T^'Jhen foraging, adult Carmine Bee-eaters generally confined their

activities to within 2-3 km of the colony, but I once tracked an adult fromi

a car, flying with food directly towards the colony 8 km away. M. pusillus

on the other hand foraged within 150 m of their nests. There appeared to

be no defence of feeding territories between adjacent pairs.

Fledgling behaviour

Fledglings were easily recognised in the field (Fig. 4) . In the few cases

I was able to observe, fledging occurred synchronously within broods of

R. pusillus but asynchronously in m. nubicus broods. For example, all

five nestlings from a brood of Little Bee-eaters left the nest within 2-3

hours of each other, but two nestling Carmine Bee-eaters fledged over a 3-

day period.

1984

Biology of bee-eaters

29

Odonata

Orthoptera

Hemiptera/

Homoptera

Neuroptera

Coleoptera

Lepidoptera

Diptera

Hymenoptera

ORDER

indet. 70

— Acrididae 228

— Mantidae 11

V/////////////X^^^<‘ 7°

/ / / / /\ -Gryilotalpidae 1

— Tetrigidae 1

•—indet. 17

10 20 30 40

^0

^ indet. 12

1— Cicadidae

indet. 3

F

zl

I— Scarabeidae 8

^ indet. 30

Sphingidae 5

Hesperiidae 1

7

—indet. 12

— Asilidae 9

— Syrphidae 1

^indet. 31

p indet. 109

— Sphecidae 3

Pompilidae 2

Vespidae 1

Apidae 6

. (Xylocopinae) 11

% FREQUENCY OCCURRENCE FAMILY

Zl

10

30 40

Figure 3 Nestling diet of w. nubicus at Zaria. Nuriters following insect

Family name indicate total individuals counted. Indet. =

indeterminate .

30

M. Dyer

MALIMBUS 6

Figure 4 Adult (on right) and fledgling m. nubicus.

There were notable specific differences in behaviour. M. pusillus

fledglings perched for long periods on small bushes or grass stems near

the nest, and only occasionally made short, inexpert flights from perch to

perch as they were fed. M. nubicus fledglings were capable of sustained

flight immediately upon leaving the nest, and flew with considerable skill

continuously for several minutes in conpany with their parents. Often a

fledgling followed its parents back to the nest preceding it into the

tunnel, and presumably coirpeting with its unfledged sibling for the

insect beina delivered. Returning fledglings sometimes stayed in the nest

for over an hour. Once both nestlings had fledged, adults and young

quickly left the area and were not seen again.

REFERENCES

DYER, M. (1983) Effect of nest helpers on growth of Red-throated Bee-eaters.

Ostrich 54: 43-46

DYER, M. & CRICK, K.Q.P. (1983) Observations on White-throated Bee-eaters

breedina in Nigeria. Ostrich 54; 52-55

FRY, C.H. (1972) Social organisation of bee-eaters (Meropidae) and co-

operative breeding in hot-climate birds. Ibis 114: 1-14

FRY, C.H. (1973) The biology of African bee-eaters. Living Bird 11; 75-

112

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

O'CCNNOR, R.J. (1978) Brood reduction in birds: selection for fratricide,

infanticide and suicide? Anim. Behav. 26: 79-96

Dr M. Dyer, 606 Martin Road, RR No . 3, Dundas , Ontario, Canada L9H 5E3

1984

31

THE BIRDS OF MAURITANIA

by John P. Gee

Received 24 August 1984

Mauritania is a bridge between North and subsaharan Africa. Just

as its people are a fascinating blend of the light-skinned peoples of

Mediterranean Africa and the varied peoples of black Africa, so its

birds are a mixture of species from the Palaearctic and Ethiopian Regions,

Considering that it is primarily a desert country, its avifauna- is

surprisingly rich.

With an area of about 700,000 km^ lying between 15° N and 27° N,

Mauritania essentially covers the southern half of the western Sahara,

However, as one travels south through southern Mauritania, the sand

seas, gravel plains and barren black mountains of the true desert gradu-

ally give way to the acacia steppes, tamarisk plains and sandy semi-

savannas of the subsaharan Sahel zone. The transformation from desert

to Sahel mainly occurs between the 100 mm, and 250 mm, isohyets shown

on the accompanying map (Fig, 1),

The only permanent body of fresh water of any consequence in the

entire country is the Senegal River, which forms part of Mauritania's

southern boundary. The interior lakes shown on some maps of Mauritania

are mere 'sebkhas*,or pans, many of which are highly alkaline. They

usually are bone dry at the surface, but may occasionally hold surface

water for a time after the rare and unpredictable rains. However,

there are scattered oases, as well as areas where subsurface water

can easily be reached by wells, and these sites are almost invariably

occupied by people. In the extreme south , where rainfall is more

reliable, are 'marigots', or sloughs and temporary lagoons, many of

which are dependent upon the Senegal River. In years of good rainfall,

or when the river overflows because of rains upriver in Senegal or Mali,

these marigots hold water and living vegetation for some months after

the rains cease. Near the town of Rosso, and elsewhere along the south-

ern boundary of Mauritania, the variety of birdlife is increased by rice

culture which is dependent upon the Senegal River for irrigation.

32

J. P. Gee

MALIMBUS 6

The rainy season lasts from late July through early October, but

in some years little rain falls, and the few showers are concentrated

in August and early September, Near the coast, as around the capital,

Nouakchott, there may be a brief shower or two in January or February,

usually in the early morning, but these are insignificant and do little

to break the long dry season.

Since the rainy season coincides with the autumn migration of

Palaearctic birds, autumn is usually an exciting time, whereas spring

migration is often dull and sometimes hardly noticeable. During the

annual rise in humidity from April onwards, many resident species begin

breeding activity, and a number of Afrotropical species move northward

into Mauritania to breed. This movement is greatest during years of

heavier rainfall.

During the first two years of my residence in Mauritania (1972-73),

the country was suffering from the same severe drought which affected

other countries of the Sahel and received so much attention in the world

press. The death toll was appalling. During autumn migration, emaciated

bird corpses were so numerous in wind and water driven debris near some

tidal pools along the coast, that one was given the impression of 'windrows'

of dead birds. Inland, every dried waterhole and well was surrounded by

the remains of jackals, foxes and other mammals, as well as birds.

In 1974 the rains were quite good, and the change was remarkable.

Not only were Palaearctic migrants commoner, but there was a marked

influx of Afrotropical migrants into southern Mauritania. In a favorite

study area in the steppe region about 100 km south of Nouakchott, the

normally barren trees came into leaf and bloomed, while grasses and

wildflowers grew shoulder high where I was accustomed to walking on bare

sand .

The diversity of Mauritanian birdlife is due in large part to the

country being bounded on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. The sea there

is one of the richest fishing areas of the world, and it is very attractive

to pelagic species of birds. Along the coast, notably at the Banc

d'Arguin, there are vast areas of shallow sea, islands and tidal flats.

There de Naurois (1959) and subsequent explorers have found an abundance

1984

Birds of Mauritania

33

of breeding birds, while later authors, such as Dick (1975), confirmed

that the Banc is a major wintering area and migration stop for Palaearctic

waders as well as other sea and water birds. Small lagoons and tidal

inlets scattered elsewhere along the coast also help to increase the

variety and richness of Mauritanian birdlife.

Bird observations are covered in the Appendix. They cover the

period from May 1971 to November 197A and consist primarily of my own

observations, but also include significant contributions from Mr Norbert

Montfort who arrived in Mauritania about a year before I did. Addition-

ally, a few observations of other persons have been included where they

were supported by specimens or photographs or otherwise checked for

reliability. Field work was concentrated in the southwestern part of

Mauritania, especially in the general area of Nouakchott and east and

west of Mauritania's one paved highway, which runs some 450 km from

Rosso, on the Senegal River, to the copper-mining settlement of Akjoujt,

northeast of Nouakchott, Also included are my observations from other

parts of Mauritania, including the interior.

The 326 forms listed are divided about equally between Palaearctic

and Afrotropical species. This is a rough approximation, as there is

considerable overlap and some Saharan species are difficult to assign

to either Region. I have not attempted definitively to assign all

species on the basis of origin. The purpose here is simply to emphasize

that Mauritania's avifauna is made up of very significant proportions

of species from each Region. However, of the approximately 100 species

which were certainly or probably breeding residents, about two-thirds

are primarily Afrotropical, and one-third Palaearctic or belonging to

both Regions,

The Appendix documents the occurrence in Mauritania of Palaearctic

species which had not previously been reported from the western end

of the southern Sahara and western Sahel. For example, invasions of

Common Buzzard Buteo buteo and Lapwing Vanellus vanellus occurred late

in 1973. Most of the individuals observed were found dead or in extremely

weak condition and it is probable that none survived the winter. All

specimens examined were emaciated and dehydrated. The specimen of

Buteo buteo which was preserved needs to be compared with other speci-

3^

J. P. Gee

MALIMBUS 6

mens, as it does not appear to be vulpinus, which is regarded by Etchecopar

and Hue (1964), Mackworth-Praed and Grant (1970) and others as the common

migrant form in Africa to the east of Mauritania, Among a number of

other interesting visitors from the north were an immature Golden Eagle

Aquila chrysaetus 60 km North of Nouakchott, a dead Robin Erithacus

rubecula near the Banc d’Arguin, and a Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus

observed in Nouakchott during January 1974,

Among African species of particular interest was the Nubian Bustard

Neotis nuba, which was found to be quite common right up to the coast in

Mauritania, although it had not previously been recorded west of Niger.

Specimens of the Kordofan Bushlark Mirafra cordofanica were collected

in the steppe region about 100 km south of Nouakchott, where it is un-

doubtedly a fairly common breeding resident. This species' range was

previously thought to be far to the east of Mauritania, although Morel

(1972) had observed what appeared to be vagrant individuals in northern

Senegal.

Finally, an interesting vagrant of possibly more regular occurrence

than the few records indicate, was Audouin's Gull Larus audouinii, with

an adult found near the Banc d’Arguin and two immatures near Nouakchott.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I wish to express warmest thanks to Norbert Montfort for allowing

me to incorporate into this paper his observations recorded during his

tenure as Ambassador to Mauritania from the Federal Republic of Germany,

and for his good company in the field during the long period when we

were the only bird watchers in Mauritania. I also wish to thank William

J. A. Dick and Peter J. Knight of the Oxford and Cambridge Mauritanian

Expedition of 1973 for their companionship during the short time we

spent together in Mauritania and for helping me to visit the Banc d’Arguin.

I am especially indebted to John H. Elgood who encouraged me to publish

some of my African records and with whom I shared many ornithological

adventures. Finally, my thanks to Moktar ould Toinsi, my colleague, who

did so much to make my stay in Mauritania enjoyable as well as productive.

1984

Birds of îfeuritania

35

SUMMARY

This paper treats about 325 species of birds observed in Mauritania

in 1971-1974 by the author and Mr Norbert Montfort. Observations show

that the avifauna is divided more or less equally between Palaearctic

and Afrotropical affinities*

REFERENCES

DEKEYSER, P* L. & DERIVOT, J. H* (1966-68) Les Oiseaux de l’Ouest

Africain* IFAN, Dakar*

DEKEYSER, P. L. & VILLIERS, A, (1950) Contribution a l’etude du peuple-

ment de la Mauritanie - Oiseaux. Bull, IFAN 12; 660-99*

DEKEYSER, L. (1954) Contribution a l’etude du peuplement de la

Mauritanie - Oiseaux. Bull. IFAN 16; 1248--92.

DICK, W. J. A, ( editor) (1975) Oxford and Cambridge Mauritanian

Expedition 1973 Report, Cambridge,

ETCHECOPAR, R. D. & HUE, F. (1964) Les Oiseaux du Nord de l’Afrique.

Editions N, Boubee & Cie., Paris,

MACKWORTH-PRAED, C. W. & GRANT, CAPT. C, H. B. (1970-73) Birds of

West Central and Western Africa. African Handbook of Birds -

Series III - Volumes 1 & 2. Longman, London,

MOREAU, R* E. (1966) The Bird Faunas of Africa and its Islands.

Academic Press, London & New York.

MOREL, G. J. (1972) Liste Commentée des Oiseaux du Senegal et de la

Gambie, ORSTOM, Dakar.

de NAUROIS, R, (1959) Premieres Recherches sur l'Avifaune des Isles

du Banc d'Arguin (Mauritanie). Alauda XXVII - 4,

SARRO, A, POHS OLIVERAS, J. R. & GUTIERREZ PAGES, L. (1968) Observa-

ciones Ornitologicas en Mauritania. Ardeola 14i 175-82,

GAZETTEER

MALIMBUS 6

Adrar 18°-23° N. W

Aftout-es- Sahel 16^-18^ N, l6°-l6°30' W

Banc d'Arguin (includes Islands Arel, Serini, Tidra) 19°40' -20° N, l6°20' W

Tagant 18° N, 10°-13° W

John P, Gee, 440 Park Avenue, Rye, New York 10580, USA

1984

Birds of F&uritania

37

APPENDIX: MAURITANIAN OBSERVATIONS 1971-1974

SPECIES LIST: - speciinen(s) deposited in Museum of Natural Science,

Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

examined in hand

BAR-GRAPH: shows temporal distribution in

M Mauritania generally

N Nouakchott area (coastal strip inland to near

Rosso-Akjouj t highway, from c, 100 km north to

100 km south of Nouakchott)

R Southeastern Mauritania (from Senegal River to

within 100 km of Nouakchott)

— many observations

X few observations

*Rains fall normally only in August-September . RSV applies here to

Afrotropical species whose northward migrations are associated with the

West African rainy season, some of which move north as early as April or

May and nest before the rains. Some species remain as long as sufficient

food and water are available, in which connection it should be noted that

when the Senegal River reaches flood stage and fills nearby 'marigots* in

autumn, the stay of certain RSV species is extended.

MAL IMBU s 6

38

J g P . G©©

r- j-j

\ eu

CTl -P

I — I D

CN) C

(U

+-> 4-1

8 °

(Tj W

il

eu 0)

U Ü

êu

U) iH

eu

P +J

0 fO ^

^8'g

^ -H

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!J O O

eu rH CO

fO CO

1 O

tr K

c c I

>1 -P

■H Q

44 x:

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y S

c ^ •

fO c ^ O

PC eu tp CO

■ CO

eu CO

RI

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S!

eu O

■ §

c eu

■H CO

^ O

U CO

c ^

êS

^ CO O

> CO CP

Q 9 ^

2 P

U eu

tJ' (C3 p)

C -H

P CO CO

P eu rH

>1 P rH

03 -H

CO &

Cr-H

Pi O O c

PC (J P -H

P eu

Pc en

Pi O

PC 2

P eu LD K

fx fcU rn PC

X

X X

X

X X

X

s 2 s 2

s Pi

Purple Heron M x x x x Uncommon PM-W. Once near Rosso in February.

A. purpurea Once flyinq offshore Nkt in August (ÎS1M) , one at

pone^ near Nkt Jun, aneî one Sep.

Great White Heron R — — -- — — - RE - rroderately common river area probably

Egretta alba throughout year.

1984

Birds of Mauritania

S S'

2 0

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tJi

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CO

C CO

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g CD to

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X

2 ft K 2

X

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fB

I I I

I

Hammerkop P — — — ~ — BR-R.^i or RSV"WV(?) . Regular around Rosso. A

Scopus umbretta number of unoccupied nests found near Rosso ^

Jul~August 1974 in thick uwoodland ^ich is flooded

in rainy season, but no birds seen in area at that

40

J. P. Gee

MALIMBUS 6

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3 -y

E 2 -H

&4J >,

fit;.

in

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s œ

w

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V£) CT ' y

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+j

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Fulvous Tree IXick R x x Flock of 200-250 birds in Feb east of Rosso (ISM) .

Dendrocygna viduata Tw birds Rosso Sep 74.

1984

Birds of Mauritania

VO

O VO

fH Ov

41

C Q)

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MALIÎffiUS 6

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1984

Birds of Mauritania

43

S « ro

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lisais

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fa Q S

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44

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J.P. Gee

MALIMBUS 6

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g

0)

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(Ü Q)

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Spur-Winged Plover P Cortinon PE - most numerous before and during rains

V . spinosus N x X x vAien a few moves north into Nkt area.

46

J.P. Gee

MALIMBUS 6

I

•6

%

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r?

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fC (D

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0) •

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2 K 2 a

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2 +J

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y

fO

rH •

cc

p

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iH 0)

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fO •

ftJ

QJ

q

P -H

0) Ch

Û4 p

•H P

O, P

■u <ü

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CO

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ag

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to

■ a

1984

Birds of Ifeuritania

4J

i i

U

f0 -n

sS

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K

X

g K

IP2

M TO ®

rH td

^ ® ffl

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a 3 fl)

go -H g

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X X

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SZ Z ^ SZK ZK SZ

X

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s z

47

I

Avocet N ” — ■ XX X IM and W - remains at pond near Nkt until it

Recurvirostra avosetta becOTes too dry in winter. Also recorded Cap

Timiris Apr.

48

î>s

rH

-P

J. P. Gee

MALIMBUS 6

U 'S

- P

^ .

Os x:

tH -P

O s

O

•H

0)

Î3^

-P x5

ëS

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^ g)

g S

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2 «

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rH <0

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+J -rH

U) tt!

Q) Ü

CO O

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£ q

S-S

tr. 0)

cD w

g .

êl I

Slender-Billed Gull M — — — ■ — — — — - BF Banc. Regular visitor Nouadhibou. OV Nkt.

L. genei N xxxxxxx

1984

Birds of îfouritania

49

8

m

3 fd

+-• d

4J

m ^

0)

H4 ^

•Ü

• u

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td Ü

iii

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! to

5>,g

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fi3 fd

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to

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to

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to O

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to

Black Tern N Enormous flocks all along coast during

Chlidonias niger and autumn.

50

J.P. Gee

MALIMBUS 6

C }-( c

O -H -H

• Xi 03

Us:.

3

§ 5

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0) o

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CO

fd m S

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>. S £

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rit

llë

CÜ 2 S 2

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t

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<0

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® ••H

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» to

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4J 4J

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S

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q

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"8 «0

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+J

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g«

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X ^

>l 'O

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I

to

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to

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fd

5 .

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I

1984

Birds of Mauritania

51

1351^5 8

-P

ë-S

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o K

U PQ

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1

&

3

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n Ü)

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^ 0)

CO

S •

iJ CO

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fd ^

m (0

i

CD QJ

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I

MALIMBUS 6

52

J . P . Ge©

8

11

d) tH

> Xi

O rH Ü3

m

'Ü 0) Q

fO rH

TJ C 'O

tH OJ §

P

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w §

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s ^

t^ 0)

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tH ^

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Ü>

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rH m g

8|à|

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5-4 -H

CD -P

£ en

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Qiro O +J 4-1

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QJ

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0

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Golden Nightjar N x x x x Collected adult finale Nkt 3/5/73 (not in bree

c. eximius ing condition) . Corrmon 50-100 km sooth of Nkt

autumn 1974 - usually in pairs.

1984

Birds of Ifeuritania

53

8

I g

I o

^ o

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U %

>

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3

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fd £3

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to

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sa

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J. P. Gee

MÂLIMBUS

4J

•H CP

è'ï

isB

<ü >-i

«8

§ 0

II

i!

O P ü

to ü -H

dt to

g^g

2 K

S K

CT tfl

C 3

0 Ü

K 3

ü

s

f «

0 3

CQ to

V

0 M

Ai -H

6 S.

PQ ■-)

S

0

PG

+J CQ

fd "H

O

I

CO

3

U M

0 3

iH M

>— i Jh

O *0

K th

g to

fO <0

0 •‘H

04 O

5 U

as

ê

O

•H

c;

•H

to

34

U) -C)

W fO

•S

Hoopoe M Common throughout year Nkt area. Courtship

Upupa epops N — activity notcBd Nkt. Probable BR RE but numbers

R — — X augmented by migrants from north. Also noted

Banc area spring and autumn and Tidjikja Aug.

1984

Birds of muritania

55

g -H w

ol

& o W c

q w Ç q

•H (fl -H -H

H' S S -H

is § g

J-) tP

0) -P 0 q

W -H -H 0

P 0 0

I § 0 P

X

X X

§ §

U Dm

œ vj

3

0 O

P O

Ü E-I

0 P

-^5

0 --S

-

4-)

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t— 1 3

I — 1

0 -Q

•H 3.

>

ri vt

P 3

0 q

^ O

C O

-H O

Eh to

^ q

0 -q

-P Ü

g

o to

P 3

Pm

O q

rH o

I — I tri

0 O

>H O,

56

J. P. Gee

MALIMBUS 6

fO -M

ij;8

fO

P-

I 8

fO w

^ B

'O

rO O

(D -1—1

-P 13

êi|

CK CG fC

CK _ 5

l'^'S

a§ £

&-H dJ

:s Z B

O U O

^ § 0) s

13 >1^ -H r5^

§

+J -H 13

21 • E-^ S

(jitH W fO

G O P 'g ^

■H W G G fC3

03 -H f3 0)

« b

iH rtJ fO

• r-H G -n

^ fC 0) ^ U

fJ G jG -H G

P ü) -P -i—i fü

Q D O 13 CÛ

P m 13

fp ^ O P

0) +J

ï

fC

0

i3^

æ * 8

*!Ss§.'ï

gcoqoSS

I

8 a O B" ffi

P G

_ fO

18

8. S

• tr>

S -5

w

13 CO

Ht

iH O

13 Q)

P P

^ [Si

(C £ •

CO O G

•H O

>iEh -h

iH tP

G ip CD

(5 O P

>'ê

iH 03

§,^co‘

(L G G

g >tM

4. æs

t; §

CL) "H

•Si

4-> -H

G 13 P

•®§g. .

03 U

(D CO P G

P -P O fo

03 G ip CG

•P g 03 13

OJ 03

O M

Ê fü g O

Im

CG G

r-- -H

I 03

CM P

r--

C3^ P

'O

P & 03

03 03

S S S .

•H 4->

iH 4j

03 -n

03 G \

S ( .8.^

^ rn ^ ^

S cr\

rH

M .

I

zv,

P 0

SJ Ti

G

P -S

03

^■g

^ 8 -P

o:^

•P CO ü

s s

S-H O 0>.

^ S P

os

P

03

4J

«0

•£'3

3 “

03

"S

P

CO <13

03 -M

CO

03

Cl,

•H

03

3

03

Pi

03 O

ai

8^

E 'o:

P

03

<0

03

M 03

^ <0

Pi 03

G

P 03

gi

CO B

S

to

a «

3

13 P

03 3

P P

-H Ü

03 G

^'3

S •

CG

<0

G

03

O

C/3 <0

03

iS'3

CO P

to

Sü

Chestnut-Backe(3 Finch-Lark N x x Unœnnün RSV Nkt. Coramon river area

Eremopterix leucotis R

1984

Birds of Mauritania

57

! cn

I

o

œ

u I w

(U fn O

4-1 r- K

c m

s|S

■q^'U

w

..sti

K rO (Ü

CQ ^ S

0) 4->

Ü U)

S S

2 «

^ Î

>1 dJ

rH C

f— I

(C

p

CO

p

4->

•S

ss

X

s «

1 n

£ °

0) -P

O (D

X

S K

CO

•H

x: +j

to q

SfO

o

ïn ns

•â^

tr m

•S-tî

CO s:

<0

§■§

4-1 q

^ ?

^0 o

â.-

&

S CO

T) -M

(U (0

;i4 t)

Ü <0

to

ffl CO

I q

>1 P

CO q

to q

O Ü

M -H

Ü C)

CD CO

rH q

O M

•H O

°'§

§ CO

m 3

P-i M

S-S

i3

+

Brown-Necked Raven N RE. Numerous Nkt as well as Nouadhibou,

Corvus ruficollis Akjouj. t, Tidjikja, Tichit . Also open desert

and at oil camps 100-200 km north of Tichit .

Not seen near river.

58

J.P. Gee

MAL IMBUS 6

0) O

SS”

•H in

+J '=3’

• rü O

m

r- O O

Z CD ^

P O c

d -P iS

.

SU)

P =

V . O

P -P rH

•H fO “

Xi 00

0) P O

C -H I— I

O L5 CN

O

• fi3 *0

CO 0 P

*0 "C -P

P 'H

P >i+J

O .-H 0 •

0 4-1 (P

"'Sa,':

s s f §

H P U s

^ s

P U)

g g

P

0 O

0

■S w

0 Ë

1 CM

O ^ ^

0 CN r-

P r- \

•P \

■■ m

CM

S K

S 2 a

2 ^

Rufous Bush-Robin N — Common PM-W and (?) RR Nkt and river area

c. galactotes R particularly immediately behind beach. Often

noted singing as though on territory. Breeding

suspected - seen feeding young in July.

1984

Birds of Mauritania

O -H

!-i fC

U

tr

•H

BS

w -P

c o

US-S

ffi 8 ^

• p

fO > c

-p 8

ê P o

..OP

s-g

Ï

Q)

U >0 •

w -p

0) P -H

■r! pL| fO -H

§ >1 c £

,-H -H Q

§ 0) OJ

(D -P O

c fO cn

8:^^ (u

S P 4J U

o O fC

U C z PC

B

fc x: !

0) -p

8-P

■P 2

w

fC 4-J

O -P

w .v:

■p p

_ o

'C P "fd

C O rH

ro w

P 0)

fO o >

CO

p p

E fd >1

E P P

O O -H

U 2 U

CO

p p

^8

•S ^

â 8

P (D

p p

8°

CO P

S Q

P 2

I

CO

fd fd

(D T-l

>l'^

rV "H •

8^8

P 'C -H

^ § O

CO P

P P

P ' tH

•H -1—1 fd

P P P

U O CO

•r~) fd

'V

g 8

g)

I

Çh

0)

CO

1

0)

g fd*

I g

^ g

2 PC

U cu

P g

O fd

p p

b cu

w o

Çh .

CQ O

^ fd

s ^

p

V s

Q) CU

P M

"H

S. K

cu

p

3

P

P fd

fd M

p: o

•H ^

to

3

P

3

Ü

•rH

P

CU

o

p

P4

to

3

P ^

P P

CO cu

no o

(D p

59

Black Redstart N Uncommon PM and W Nkt area

6o

J. P, Gee

MALIMBUS 6

I O

I -M

8ë

813

8?

-P 00

E8

2 a

2 te

w ^

Blackcap N x PM-WV Nkt area - numerous Feb-March. Noted

s. atricapilla river area Oct. Numerous Nov 73 at Banc -

passing along coast and several landing on our

boat offshore. Numerous Nkt Nov 74.

1984

Birds of Mauritania

61

5"

u

•H

-P

§ g

Æ M-l o iH

fD O M-l

W +J w tr

W C 0) ^

fg 'C p U Pm

C CÜ

Q . rH J-i 4m

E fd fg (D

E (U E -P

O P ® fO c

U fO 4m rH S

C fO

iy

E P P

E O fO

S-gs

èi&

is 01 o

êp

S i! S

5

g 8

(0

p

I .

p +J

i:

ft +j

rd

P

o o

ëg

2 K

2

P

0) tJ

If

§ g

•H (0

.S'3

1 !

cn to

o

P CO

Æ q

12 fd

0) M

5 2

P

p -2

p (d

12 M

Ü to

P q

■tJ

p td

iS'S

B Ü

•H

CO -U

-- P

E oj

to to

4m -q

P

-f.

u M

Green-Backed Eremomela R x x x Once 31/12/71-1/1/72 river area at mrigot near

E. pusilla Gani (NM) .

62

J.P. Gee

MALIMBUS 6

-H +J

3-5

S

8

Ü W

PÛ ^ ^

PC

X

S 2

iS2

§■2

Ü) to

S3

to

c:

nj

e

. ns

I— I Ü

fO

o •

cn a,

Ü

3

5-1 OJ

0)

Æ! O

Ü 04

4J

to -q

Ü

>i ns

Pl4 3

'ts

QJ

Ü

'S

Çh k-

U

Q) ns

Æ +J

O ns

+J -ri

to U

Ü 4J

>( to

Et4 ns

04

ns

o

•>s

Ü

to

3

s:

'S

1o

^ to

to q

CG 0)

I M

4-1 ns

4-) Cn

StO

q

<u

rH to

to

d" to

O -rH

as g

ns

«— ! îi

•H ns

<0

+J tq

5"

m fO

g: '-H

83

rH ns

.-1 +j

>H s:

(0

§■ ^

(U

+J ns

“H

<0 ns

4J 0)

^ o

m <u

5 q

>1 Ü

2! .

O s:

+ s

Tree Pipit N Camion HVI - Nkt area. Also river

Anthus trivialis

1984

Birds of Mauritania

63

5 B ^ Ü Ê

•H t-D W -P (U Æ

51 (d 0) 4J

-P M-i in •

fd o s-4 *• fO rH a.

ÛJ o fO w 0

p p rd cn

cn 0) I â n3

cn -P fo ^ 2

rd

+J p

^ fd fd fd r» 0

2 P 0 cn cn

Ï ^ C * 0 1d p

f -H -H 0 p _

P -H

s'ë B'^ «

^ O Æ >1

0 iH 0 Cri

8 ssa g

I

y

Xi O

r- ^

2 ^

rH P

\ 0

m O

I

CTi 0

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5^ rH

■H rH

2i

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fl

0

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0 00

£ §

0 0

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fl| -H

't)

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V

îd-ÏJ

Qa

10

0 P

-c:

Ü p,

0

^ O

CO -Q

P

>1 Ü

0 ><:

p 0

Ü

CO

4-> 3

0 -P

0 P

P 0

O PI

■s .

K PI

'0 p

rH 0

O -H

g P

Q 0

O P)

CQ ^

+

Black-Crowned Tchagra R Coimon RSV or RE up to 80 km north of river

Tchagra senegala Probably BR.

Blue-Eared Glossy Starling N RSV-BR from river north to beyond Nkt

Lamprocoleus chalybaeus R

64

J.P.Gee

MALIMHJS 6

I

Ï .

•H S-j

fO (D

Æ CO

>, .

rH 0)

f-i I Ü

(C ro c

•H r- O

U (Ti

S S £

^7) (U

fO o

F

-P 'O IH

^ P t-- •

2 -H cr. c

rH f3

p

0

G -H

5

•H ^3

CO • 2

•H nj

> U >iO

rH to

P 0 P ^

0 p 0 e

4-> 0 0 S

I'! S8

■s

Ï— I

•H

?

D3 03

& ^

S:i

V w

0 •'S

+j to

4;J æ;

0 -P

Yellow-Fronted Canary R x One record tosso Sep 72.

198^

Birds of î^uritania

65

a

^ to

U&

'Ü

s g

il

S to

(Ü "m

4.3

M U

0) d

13 OJ

'^1

É

P

O O

Vi

s é

à • §

W o o CP

■ass'ss's

rd -H 0) p rH

•H 5 ^ o

5 fJ ^ P

MW =0

p 8 -S «

U +J

P

^ è I 'S .3 S

CO M -M Q W

s. ^ ^ g

RS Oj+J «H • o

J to 0PM

P & flj

K ro -H w P W

ffi -H 0) f< to

Ü W rH fO

fÜ 4J © _ 0)

■ ■

S -H ■ ■ m -p j

5 ^ &

2.slS8€

U 4-J

•H sH ^

-M *H !S

fd «

M tp O

u c m

Q) -H

gSI

4.58

f'8 8

CO -P

4. 85

5 g æ

fO

5

Oi •

g

fd (0

OJ fd

u OJ

fd w

U >1

g.s

'd 2

È.S

o

KD

tT<

-p

to

0)

X X

2 K

2 oi

«

2 K 2 K

2 a

&.

fO N

S &

u o

O Q4

u

Î

M

S: to

•H

q p

rH 4J

fd to

m o

m H

S -3

OJ OJ

m H

I o

Û) H

-P ro

•H ^5

^ 3

^ «5

fO

U M

Q) -H

> 3

fd Ü

M ?

^ o

0) to

Cn 3

fd 0)

rH Ü

rH O

■ H r~H

> a.

I

fp to

® "H

^ H

fd fd

0) P

K -H

I G,

to

*d

m Û4 > Qm

I o

M QJ

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13 3

S"

66

J. P. Gee

MALIMBUS 6

S

œ

(D

ü

■B ^

I

K

PQ

>1

I

•S 5^

Sm

P &

J-) fd

SL ^

O'- w

_ w

■S s

iri (0

ê-'d

_ ^

ÇLi 3^

O M

^ O

U)

-H 0)

CQ QJ

+J

OJ Ü

tr OJ

§ "Sj

O

t

en

•H

CQ

C

O <0

CD !h

rH 'M

§■"’

S

<U

3

(S’

fC <T5

CD <U

I — I ' — I

0) QJ

Sâ

Broad-Tailed Paradise Whydah R Fairly coiraion (and conspicnjious in breeding

Steganura orientalis plunege) PE or RSV-WV river area. Also north

to about 50 km fron Nkt during rainy season.

67

198^

EAR~TÜFTS IN A GLAUCIDIUM OWL

by Richard Farœr

Received 27 March 1984

The literature on African birds has tended to differentiate the small

owls of the genera Otus and Glaucidium by the presence or absence of ear

tufts respectively. Bannerman (1933) used tail spots and breast barring in

keying the smaller owls, but Bates (1930) distinguished Glaucidium ("without

ear-tufts") from Otus ("with long, outwardly projecting ear-tufts") by this

character. Similarly Serle & Morel (1977) state that the Pearl-spotted

Owlet Glaucidium perlatum is "without any ear-tufts" and Williams (1963)

says it is "distinguished by lack of ear-tufts".

When photographs of a small owl at Lagos, Nigeria, clearly showed ear-

tufts, its identity was therefore at first in doubt. In October 1982 at

Tarkwa Bay, Lagos, a small owl was being mobbed by an army of birds.

Several photographs were obtained with a Nikkon F photomic with Questar 34

inch telescope.

When the camera was being set up, mobbing ceased and the owl attenuated

itself, drawing in its plumage and stretching its neck (keeping the head

facing forward) . Then it raised its ear-tufts to a horizontal level, and

flew off. A photograph of the ear-tufts half raised was obtained (Fig. 1),

but the sight of the full ear-tuft display was so startling that the camera

was shaken. Although blurred (Fig. 2), the ear-tufts are clearly visible,

and the bird quite strongly resembles a Scops Owl Otus scops.

Its identity being in doubt, photographs were sent to J.H. Elgood

v^O œnsulted with G.D. Field. At first they took the bird to be one of

the larger Otus species, but they had no way of judging size. Another

photograph was therefore taken of a measuring tape at exactly the same

place as the owl, ^ich was calaalated therefrom to have been c. 15 cm

long. Consideration was given to two species (neither yet known from

Nigeria: Elgood 1982), namely O. icterorhyncha and G. tephronotum. Mean-

while D.W. Snow identified the bird, from transparencies, as G. perlatum,

although there still seemed to be some slight doubt, because of the ear-

tufts .

With this possibility in mind, J.H. Elgood and I conpared the photo-

graphs with skins at the British Museum (Natural History) and convinced

ourselves that the bird was indeed a Pearl-spotted Owlet G. perlatum.

The crown is unspotted, indicating that the bird is immature. Nuchal

'eye '-spots, characteristic of several owls in this genus, were well

developed, giving the bird a prominent 'back face' (Fig. 3). Another

immature G. perlatum which I photographed in 1981 also had a notable

'back face' . At the Musexim the only immature bird which we examined

clearly showed the 'face' on the nape of the neck.

J.H. Elgood later examined all Museum holdings of West African

G. p. perlatum. Of 53 skins, 8 (15%) showed a sharply defined 'back face' ;

68

Richaxd Farmer

MALIMBUS 6

Figures 1-3 Pearl-spotted Owlet Glaucidium perlatum , Ijaoos, Nigeria,

October 1982. (1) Usual appearance, without ear-tufts showing;

(2) with ear- tufts erected; (3) rear view showing nuchal 'face'.

1984

Glaucidium ear- tufts

69

29 (55%) had moderately contrasting 'back face' and 16 (30%) showed less

contrast. Of the 8 strongly marked birds two were fully mature, with

spotted crowns, and six, without crown spots, were immature. All the other

45 specimens had crown spots. This suggests that the nuchal 'face'

of Pearl-spotted Owlets is a feature better developed in immature than

adult birds.

Now that G. perlatum is known to possess erectile feathers on the

sides of the crown, attention needs to be given to the whole genus.

Perhaps a conspicuous 'back face' , revealed under threat by elongation of

body and neck, may confer some advantage especially important to the juvenile

bird.

Acknowl edgemen ts

I am grateful to Dr D.W. Snow and the staff of the British Museum

(Natural History) for the provision of skins, and to J.H. Elgood,

Dr C.H. Fry and Dr J.F. Monk for comment on earlier drafts.

Dr Richard Farmer, St Dominic's Parish, Box 44, Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria

RFQUFST FOR INFORMATION; CLAMATOR HOSTS

We are investigating host selection in Striped or Levaillant's Cuckoo

C. levaillantii and Jacobin Cuckoo C. jacobinus (races pica and

serratus) , and wish to know the whereabouts of preserved skins of nest-

lings or fledglings of eitiier species v^ich record their host species.

Whereas C. levaillantii parasitizes babblers of the genus Turdoides

probably exclusively, we are anxious to confirm v^ether c. jacobinus

ever parasitizes babblers in Africa. Ihe best proof of this would be

the existence of preserved material. We are conversant with the

literature giving general statements and specific exaitples of parasitism

by C. jacobinus pica with Turdoides babblers in Fast and northeastern

Africa. As far as we know these records have been based either on blue

eggs found in babblers’ nests or on sight records of young clamator

cuckoos being fed by these hosts. Notwithstanding the fact that c.

jacobinus commonly parasitizes babblers in India, positive proof that

this cuckoo does so anywhere in Africa is lacking.

We vould be grateful if curators of collections v\^ich contain skins

of young clamator cuckoos would re-examine Üieir material and, others

v\^o may have field information, wDuld report their findings to M.P.S.

Irwin.

M.P.S. Irwin, 3 Whitecairns Avenue, Hillside, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

J.F.R. Colebrook-Robjent, Musumanene , P.0, Box 303, Chôma, Zambia

?0

MALIMBUS 6

ADDITIONAL BIRD RECORDS FROM BAMINGUI-BANœRAN

NATIONAL PARK, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

by Arthur A. Green

Received. 23 August 1984

From observations made during 1980-82, I reported on the 258 species of

birds found in the guinea savanna portion (southeastern half) of Bamingui-

Bangoran National Park in northern Central African Republic (Green 1983) .

In that paper I described the study area, the climate and the bird habitats.

I visited the same part of the park again from 10 February to 16 March 1984,

travelling extensively on foot and by bicycle. I confirmed the identity of

some previously imreported birds and discovered many new ones, bringing to

20 the number of new species for the Park, and gathered additional informa-

tion on the status of 32 others. There follows a list of these 52 species,

the new ones asterisked, and changes affecting the others being underlined.

Place names may be located on the map in my former paper. Sequence and

nomenclature follow White (1960-65). STATUS: R resident Oriole year,

I irregular visitor, A intra-African migrant, P Palaearctic migrant;

ABUNDANCE: A 1-2 sightings, B rare, C frequent, D common, E abundant;

HABITAT: commonest habitat shown by x: A riparian, B wetland, C grass

savanna, D vooded savanna, E forest, F inselberg, G human occupation.

*Egretta garzetta

Leptoptilus crumeniferus

*Circus macrourus

Polyboroides radiatus

Accipiter melanoleucos

*Melierax gabar

*Aguila rapax

Falco chicquera

*Guttera plumifera

*Crex egregia

Podica senegalensis

Vanellus tectus

*Tringa stagnatilis

Tringa totanus

Gallinago gallinago

*Calidris temminckii

*Cursorius temminckii

Oena capensis

*Turtur brehmeri

T reran waalia

Psittacula krameri

Otus leucotis

Apus apus

Ceryle maxima

Halcyon malimbica

*Merops brewer!

Abun-

Status dance

r-îonth

(1-12) A B C D E F G

B

D

P C

C

P C

C

c

R B

R C

C

B

P C

P B

C

A C/D

R C

I B

I C

B

P C

R C

C

A

2-3

11-12,1-5

2-3

10- 12,2-4

2-3

11,2-3

12,1-3

11- 12,1-3

1 0-1 1 ,2-3 X

1- 3

2- 3

1- 3

2- 3

2-3

12,1-3

2-3

12.1- 3

11.2- 4

2-3,6

1- 3

1-12

2- 3, 6-9

3

X X

X

X X

X

X X

X

XX X

X

X X

X

XXX

X X

X XX

X

ix X

1984

Bamingui-Bangoran, CAR

71

Central African Republic, as far as the southern edge of the sudan savanna

zone. This is due to the extensive blocks of dry deciduous forests and

gallery forests. Both Crested Guinea-fowl Gutters edouardi and Plumed

Guinea-fowl G. plumifera are resident in forested areas of the park, the

latter much rarer than the former. The Spotted Greenbul Ixonotus guttatus

was uncomnnon in the riparian/gallery forest area along the Bamingui River

at Gandossi's hunting safari canp during iry 1984 visit. I was surprised

to find that Blue-headed Doves Turtur brehmeri~are not uncommon in forest

and are frequently seen in the forest at Mandabale. I saw a pair of Black-

casqued Hombill Ceratogymna strata forest on 23 March 1984 between Azene

and Koukourou, 65 km south of Bamingui.

On 21 December 1981 in deciduous forest near Azene 90 ]<m south of the

park I saw a Black-headed Bee-eater Merops brewer!^ I was very surprised

to discover a pair in a gallery forest along the Biankourou 85 km west of

Bamingui, south of the southern inselbergs. Then in late March 1984,

during a trip to Manovo-Gounda-Saint Floris National Park, I was told by

Peace Corps Volunteers that Black-headed Bee-eaters were nesting in the

vast gallery forest along the upper Manovo river east of N'Dele (about 80

72

A. A. Green

MALIMBUS 6

km ESfE of my study area) at 08*^15'N, 21°05'E: Malbrant (1952) had reported

the species from Haute Pata, high ground 15-20 km east of the Upper Manovo.

Namaqua Doves Oena capensis were much more common than in previous years,

perhaps due to the severity of the drought (ponds and streams v\iiich had never

been known to dry up, did so in 1984). I believe the birds pushed farther

south and in greater numbers due to this factor.

During 1980-82 I saw only blue-headed, and yellovr-headed races of Yellow

Wagtail Motacilla flavaj in 1984 blue-headed birds were common, yellow-

headed ones were frequent, and I saw a flock of black-headed birds at

Poubouloulou on 5 March. Red-rurtped Swallows Hirundo daurica, not noticed

in previous years, were common over the floodplain prairies and at Koudi

Cave (17 km west of Bangoran village) .

During 1980-82 I frequently saw Red-bellied Paradise Flycatchers

Terpsiphone rufiventer in riparian/ forest areas 60 to 90 km downstream of

Bamingui village, but I did not see any in 1984. Instead I found Rufous-

vented Flycatchers T. rufocinerea in riparian/gallery forest areas near

Gandossi's safari. Further investigation seems required to verify that both

species are present in the park.

RÉSUMÉ

Pendant Février-Mars 1984 des observations sur 1' avifauna du Parc National

de Bamingui-Bangoran, RCA ont ad jouté 20 espèces à la liste de 258 espèces

déjà indiqué et ont augmenté l'information sur 32 de ses espèces.

REFERENCES

GREEN, A. A. (1983) The birds of Bamingui-Bangoran National Park, Central

African Republie. Mal imbus 5; 17-30

MALBRANT, R. (1952) Faune du Centre Africain Français: (Mammifères et

Oiseaux). Bull. Biol., E. Lechevalier, Paris

Arthur A. Green, Route 1, Box 778, Hiawassee , Georgia 30546, USA

1984

73

DÉCOUVERTE DU WINEAU DORÉ PASSER LUTEUS DMS L'EXTRÊME SUD DE

L'ALGÉRIE EN RELATION AVEC LE PEUPLEMENT DU NORD DU NIGER

par J, -P. Jacob et R. de Schaetzen

Reçu le 10 July 1984

Fin janvier 1984, une œlonie de ^toineaux dorés Passer luteus est dé-

couverte dans les jardins du village frontière d'In Guezzarn (19^30 'N,

5°30'E) dans le sud du Sahara algérien* Une vingtaine de nids sont

construits dans les grands acacias des jardins et un peu plus de quarante

individus sont observés du 29 au 31 janvier 1984j certains dèntre eux

visitent les nids. Il s'agit à la fois de la pronière observation et des

pranières nidifications de ce plocéidé en Algérie.

La limite septentrionale de l'aire de répartition due Moineau doré

déborde de la zone sahélienne vers des steppes subdésertiques et le

Sahara méridional (i^torel & ^torel 1973). Ces poussées dont plusieurs sont

des découvertes assez récentes, festonnent le nord de l'aire à la faveur

de l'existence de massifs montagneux ou de bassins fluviaux sporadiquonent

inondés; Atar en Mauritanie, bassin du Tilemsi au Mali, Ennedi et Tibesti

au Tchad. La présence de l'espèce en Algérie est à mettre en relation

avec l'occupation du massif de l'Air dans le nord du Niger et le

développement noté sur sa marge occidentale suite à la création récente

des villes minières d'Arlit et Akokan (18®43'N, 7°20'E) , En période de

reproduction, l'espèce était connue de l'oasis isolée de Fachi et du massif

mène de l'Air ou elle atteint Iférouane au nord ( Harter t 1924, Chopard &

Vil lier s 1950, Fairon 1975). Nous obserwns en outre des centaines de nids

à Arlit, essentiellamœt dans des acacias et des Balanites aegyptiaca des

jardins irrigués en périphérie de la ville, ainsi que plusieurs dizaines

dans le kori Maiïînamet (80 km au nord-est d'Arlit) , corrplètemait déserté

lors de notre passage fin novCTibre 1983.

En novenbre-décembre, l'Air senble presqu ' entièrement déserté; pas

d'observation de Buchanan (in Hartert 1924) et nous n'ei notons que 2 ex.

le 30 novonbre 1983 à Iférouane. Par contre, de petits groupes atteignant

30 ex. sont rencontrés sur la bordure occidentale de l'Air eitre Agades et

Arlit, aux abords d'agglomérations (jardins) ou dans des pâturages sub-

désertiques parssnés de petits acacias au nord d'Agadês. Le îtoineau doré

n'abonde à cette époque qu'à Arlit et Acokan où des milliers d'individus

s'y répandent pendant la journée dans les jardins, basses-cours et dans

les cultures maraîchères irriguées en périphérie des agglomérations;

quelques oiseaux sont notés dans les tamarix des dêcanteurs d' Akokan.

Avec Lagonostlcta senegala , dominant, et ment Lonchura malabarica , cette

espèce compose l'élânent principal de l'avifaune hivernale de ces cités

récentes. Il est également possible que ces villes constituent un pôle

d'attraction en hiver pour les oiseaux nichant dans la région. A 200 km

au nord-ouest, les Moineaux dorés d'In Guezzara sont sans doute sédœtaires.

74

J. P. Jacob & R. de Schaetzen

MALIMHJS 6

BIBLIOGRAPHIE

CHOPARD, L. et VILLIERS, A. (19501 Contribution à l'étude de l'Aïr.

Oiseaux. Ménnoire de l'IFAN n 10

FAIRON, J. (1975) Contribution à l'ornithologie de l'Air (Niger) . Le

Gerfaut 65: 107-134

HARTERT, E. (1924) Ornithological results of captain Buchanan's second

Sahara expedition. Novitates Zoologicae 31: 1-48

lîOREL, M.-Y. et MOREL, G. (1973) Prenières observations sur la

reproduction du Moineau doré. Passer luteus (Licht.) en zone semi-

aride de l'ouest africain. L'Oiseau et R, F. O. 43: 96-118

Jean-Paul Jacob, 76 rue de Petit-Leez , B-5938 Grand-Leez , Belgium

Roland de Schaetzen , 6 avenue Vésale, B-1810 Wemmel , Belgium

SEVEN NEW SPECIES FOR CONAKRY, QTINEA - In vdiat appears to be the first

paper on the birds of Conakry and environs. Republic of Guinea, D.K.

Richards {Malimbus 4: 93-103) describes observations on 178 species made

during the course of nine months residence there from 1979 to 1981. I

spent the period 12-26 March 1984 in Cona]<:ry and observed birds for 13

hours, flost of my observations were made near the Grand Hotel de

l'Indépendance, at the extretie southwest tip of the peninsula, an area

where Richards apparently made no observations. I also paid a short

visit to an area of secondary forest some 25 km northeast of the hotel.

I saw 55 species. My notes on most of these birds correspond well with

vhat was reported by Richards. But I identified seven species vÆiich are

not mentioned or were not certainly identified by him; they are:

Falco peregrinus One around the hotel on 13 March.

Sterna sandvicensis A total of 11 identified from 16 to 25 March, resting

on the shore or fishing over the ocean. All the black-beaked terns seen

closely had a yellow tip to the beak. I saw no example of sterna nilotica,

though Richards assessed it as the comronest tern in the area.

sterna nigra 13 seen in small parties off-shore on 16 and 17 March.

Hirundo daurica Three ha\«^ing around the hotel and resting on wires with

H. rustica on 25 March.

Laniarius ferrugineus A single bird in secondary forest on 18 March.

Ptilostomus afer About 15 in two localities in the city of Conakry on 18

March.

Ficidula hypoleuca One in secondary forest on 18 March.

P.W.P. Browne

115 Crichton Street Ottawa , Ontario, KIM 1V8 , Canada

1984

75

EWLIJTIONARY TRENDS IN THE SMTOGIOUSE (PTEROCLIDM])

by G.L. Maclean

Received 14 April 1984

Tbe main concentrations of sandorouse species today are from North Africa

(mainly the southwestern Sahara) through the Middle East to the Thar

Desert of north^stem India (Maclean 1976). It seens likely therefore

that the family has its centre of radiation someyiere within this major

arid region of the M3rld^ and it is here that the rrost likely ancestral

type of sandgrouse is to be found. Within the 16 species of sandgrouse^

two fairly clearly definel genera can be identified mainly on the basis of

foot structure: Syrrhaptes has the front toes completely enclosed in a

jXDdotheca and the entire tarsometatarsus and toes are feathered; Pte rodes

has the front toes separate and naked ^ and the tarsometatarsus feathered

anteriorly only. The hind toe is absent in Syrrhaptes , vestigial in

Pterocles , However ^ basic plumage similarities between these genera are

easily recognizable y and plumage criteria can be used to identify all the

major ewlutionary trends airong sandgrouse,

A tesic plumage pattern can be traced in the species of Syrrhaptes

(both Palaearctic in distribution) and in irost of the Palaearctic species

of Pterocles (Fig. 1). The one extant species of sandgrouse that comes

closest to a conposite picture of the basic pattern is p. orientalis

#iich differs from the hypothetical ancestral plumage pattern only in

lacking elongate central rectrices. This hypothetical ancestral type can

therefore be termed the ancestral "orientalis-type" sandgrouse; from it

arose at least five major evolutionary lines by relatively siirple processes

of retention^ reduction^ loss or development of certain plumage

characteristics,, as well as some nodif ications of other structures

(especially the legs and feet) and of behaviour. It may be assumed that

the ancestor arose in North Africa or the Middle East.

The first of these evolutionary lines involves the loss of the long

central rectrices and leads to p. orientalis itself. The second leads to

the soræyiat aberrant P. alchata by a series of relatively small changes.

The third (and possibly the oldest) involves rrodif ications not only of

plumage^ but also of foot structure (no doubt as an adaptation to low

eivironmental terperatures in arid Central Asia) , and gave rise to the two

species of Syrrhaptes-, even here, plumage changes are relatively minor.

A fourth line migrated southeastwards , giving rise to Pterocles exustus in

East Africa and P. namaqua in southern Africa; the complete allopatry of

tiieir present distribution is consistent with the requirorents for

spéciation in different habitats, and toth species retain many ancestral

plumage features.

The fifth main ewlutionary line derived from the ancestral '"orientalis-

type" sandgrouse has led in turn to anotiier major evolutionary radiation,

mainly involving the loss of the long central rectrices and the development

of a black-and-^ite pattern on the forehead of the male. The least

differentiated species on this line are P. senegallus and P. coronatus ,

76

G.L. Maclean

MALIMBUS 6

Table 1 Corrparison of the groupings of sandgrouse by Maclean (this study)

and by T'vO Iters (1974)

Species Group No. (Maclean) Genus (Subgenus) (loiters 1974)

1984

Sandgrouse evolution

77

still both inhabiting the ancestral Palaearctic arid zone, including North

Africa. Apparently related, some^at geographically removed, but with

relatively little modified plumage pattern (except for the highly

characteristic vhite lower chest and eyebrow) is p. decoratus of East

Africa. The derivation of the endenic Madagascan P. personatus from P.

decoratus is speculative, but P. personatus undoubtedly derives from the

Senegal lus-coronatus line as evidenced by its black forehead.

From sanevhere along this fifth line of evolution, probably from a

species similar to P. coronatus, arose the well defined subgroup of four

species P. lichtensteini , P. quadricinctus , P. bicinctus and P. indicus ,

sometimes classed as a separate genus Nyctiperdix . These becoræ

progressively more differentiated from the North African lichtensteinl-

type the further they are removed geographically, leading to P. bicinctus

in southern Africa on the one hand, and to P. indicus in India on the

other.

The southern African P. gutturalis is widely separated geographically

from the ancestral home of the family, but it retains some of the

ancestral plumage features, although aberrant in many ways. The most

highly aberrant species of sandgrouse, relative to the "orientalis-type" ,

is P. burchelli of southern Africa, with the most widely divergent plumage

and structural characters; its general coloration is that of the red

Kalahari sand vÆiere it lives, and it has proportionately much the longest

legs of any sandgrouse. P. gutturalis and P. burchelli appear to

represent two relatively old and independent invasions of soiathem

Africa. P. namaqua surely represents a more recent invasion, with features

far closer to the ancestral type.

According to the plan above, the sandgrouse fall into six or seven more

or less well defined groups, each of which might qualify as a subgenus,

although not all of equal rank.

Group 1 is characterized long central rectrices and a mainly

Palaearctic distribution, the chief exception being p. namaqua. It includes

the species alchata, exustus , senegallus and namaqua.

Group 2 is characterized by joined and feathered toes, no hind toe, and

an Asian distribution; it is usually recognized as the genus Syrrhaptes

with the two species paradoxus and tibetanus . In its plumage features it

is not far removed from the hypothetical "orientalis-type" .

Group 3 consists only of oriental is , separable from Group 1 only by the

absence of elongate central rectrices.

Group 4 is characterized by black forehead coloration in males, and a

loss of long central rectrices. It includes coronatus , decoratus and

personatus , and leads naturally to the next group.

Group 5 is the best defined group of sandgrouse, forming the Nyctiperdix

complex (possibly a superspecies) of lichtenstein , quadricinctus , bicinctus

and indicus. It is characterized by heavily barred plumage patterns, black-

and-vAiite foreheads in the males, and nocturnal or crepuscular activity

patterns (especially drinking behaviour) .

Group 6 consists only of gutturalis which may be closer to P. orientalis

78

G.L. Maclean

MAL IMBUS 6

than its present plumage features and geographical distribution indicate.

It has lost the elonaate central rectrices of the ancestral form, but

retains several "orientalis-type" features.

Croup 7 consists only of burchelli whose characteristics have already

been disaissed above.

Comparing my groupings with those of Wolters (1974), several similarities

emerge. One of the most obvious is the recognition of the subgenus

Nyctiperdix (my Croup 5) and its inclusion within a larger coirplex of

species with black foreheads ^ich Wolters raises to the rank of genus

Nyctiperdix (ny Group 4 in part) . Some details of arrangement within

these divisions differ, but their affinities are indicated. 1\t)lters also

recognizes the closeness of Syrrhaptes {sensu stricto) with the other long-

tailed species of sandgrouse. Interestinaly too, Wolters places oriental is

and gutturalis toaether as the subgenus Eremialector, acrreeing with ity

suspicions that they may indeed, be closely related. Although P. alchata

is rather aberrant, I do not believe it warrants separate aeneric status

as proposed by Wolters. Finally Wolters and I also agree about the extreme

specialization of P. burchelli vliich he places in the monotypic genus

Calopterocles .

On the Wiole I do not believe it is necessary to divide the sandcrrouse

into more than two genera, Pterocles and Syrrhaptes , as they are usually

defined. I do, however, agree that subgeneric division is valid, though my

seven groups do not coincide exactly with the nine subgenera of T';blters

(1974) . A direct comparison of the two plans appears in Table 1.

REFERENCES

MACLEAN, G.L. (1976) Adaptations of sandgrouse for life in arid lands.

Proc. 16th Int. Orn. Congr. , Canberra'. 502-516

I'OLTERS, H.E. (1974) Aus der omithologischen Sammlung des Museums

Alexander Koenig. III. Bonn, zool . Beitr. 25: 283-291

G.L. Maclean, Department of Zoology, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg ,

South Africa, 3200

1984

79

SYNTHÈSE SUR LES OISEAUX DE MER OBSERVÉS AU SÉNÉGAL

par A. R. Dupuy

Received 14 March 1984

Le Sénécral, grâce à ses quelque 800 km de littoral et son espace marin élargi

aux deux cents milles, dispose d'un vaste empire océanique riche en ressources

naturelles renouvelables .

Bien que surejploité sur le plan halieutique, le niveau de ces ressources

reste encore considérable, car encore peu atteint par les pollutions,

notamment par les hydrocarbures.

Pour des raisons surtout matérielles, les oiseaux marins du Sénégal sont

restés peu étudiés à ce jour : manque d'embarcations, de personnels

compétents etc. Bien sûr l'oeuvre de pionner réalisée par notre collègue

R. de Naurois puis la dynamique impulsion donnée par G. J. Morel ont suscité

l'intérêt de beaucoup.

Enfin, avec la création des parcs marins d'une part et d'autre part la

multiplication des visites dues aux ornithologues résidents ou de passage

au S^égal, leur inventaire a pu être entrepris. Cela grâce également

aux pêcheurs sportifs de "tout gros" que nous avons sensibilisés au sujet

des oiseaux marins. De ce fait le "Sea Watching" est devenu à la mode à

Dakar. La liste ci- jointe représente une première synthèse qui devrait

être complétée par la suite, au fur et à mesure des nouvelles observations.

Nous avons suivi la séquence systématique de Serle & Morel, 1979.

La plupart des oiseaux marins a été observée en novembre et décembre,

ce qui correspond à l'hivernage de sub-adultes et d'adultes, mais surtout

d'avril à septembre au imoment des déplacements migratoires. Cela ne

prouve pas que, le reste de l'année, les oiseaux soient absents de la zone,

bien au contraire. Il s'agit plutôt, en dehors de ces saisons, de

l'espacement des patrouilles de surveillance des gardes nationaux dû à

l'état de la mer, notamment à partir de la zone de dix milles, qui semble

pourtant très fréquentée par les oiseaux marins.

Autre fait remarquable, et bien que des colonies reproductrices existent

aux îles du Cap-Vert, aucun Puffin ni Pétrel notamment n'est connu du

Sénégal corrïïæ nicheur. Pourtant de noimbreuses séances d'écoute nocturnes

ont été organisées aux îles de la Madeleine pour essayer d'entendre le cri

de ces oiseaux. De même, à l'époque des migrations, des tours de guet ont

été organisés au phare des Mamelles, (près de Dakar) mais n'ont donné aucun

résultat.

Mais peut-être ont-ils niché dans un passé récent comme semblent le

montrer les nombreuses appellations géographiques telles que Iles aux

Oiseaux, Presqu'îles aux Oiseaux etc ... relevées sur les cartes. Il y a

là un intéressant problème à suivre et il est vraisemblable qu'avec la

protection dont jouissent aujourd'hui la majorité des sites propices à la

reproduction, ces espèces se réinstalleront.

80

A. R. Dupuy

MALIMHJS 6

PROCELLARIIDAE

PTJFFIN CENDRÉ Procellaria diomedea Coirrain au large des cS'tes sénégalaises,

notamment de mai à septembre. Souvent vu en conpacmie des bandes de

dauphins. Semble également attiré par les bancs de céphalopodes. Migre

sur la façade maritime de toute la Sénégambie.

PUFFIN MAJEUR Procellaria gravis Observé à deux reprises sur la côte

(migrateur épuisé) . En mars échoué au Cap-Manuel.

PUFFIN FULIGINEUX Procellaria grisea Apparamment peu abondant. Toujours

assez au large des côtes. Visible quelquefois lors des mouvements nord-sud.

PUFTOJ DES ASIGLAES Procellaria puff inus Commun au large en été, mais

aussi le reste de l'année en dehors de la période de reproduction. Recherche

les bancs d'anchois, voire les déchets de poissons laissés par les

chalutiers .

PETIT PUFFIN Procellaria assimilis Peu commun, au large, seulerænt en été.

Ces oiseaux proviennent peut-être des colonies reproductrices des îles

Canaries .

PÉTREL DE BULWER Bulweria bulwerii Observé à diverses reprises en mer.

Oiseaux provenant vraisemblablement des zones de reproduction des îles

Canaries, du Cap-Vert et autres archipels et îles de l'Atlantique central.

Semble davantage fréquent dans le sud de la zone considérée (Guinée) .

PÉTREL OCEANITE Oceanites oceanicus L'un des plus fréquents oiseaux

pélagiques du Sénégal. Présent toute l'année avec un renforcement lors de

ses déplacements saisonniers de mai à septembre.

PÉTREL FREGATE Oceanites marinus Fréquent au large : vraisenblablement

des oiseaux en provenance des colonies des îles du Cap-Vert.

PÉTREL TEMPETE Hydrobates pelagicus Présent dans les eaux sénégalaises

toute l'année avec un pic en été, notamment en juillet. Nombreaux à la

côte le 31 janvier 1984, de Soumbédioune (Dakar) â Kayar (NE de Dakar),

sans doute du fait de la terrpôte (Ard & P. Geroudet) . Cette partie de

l'océan semble représenter son aire normale de répartition.

PÉTREL DE CASTRO Hydrobates Castro Fréquent au large de mai à septembre.

Mais peut-être également en dehors de cette période, à la recherche des

courants marins pour voyager.

PÉTREL CUL-BLANC Hydrobates leucorhoa Vu à pl\isieurs reprises dans les

10 milles. Présent toute l'année, particuliérement en avril : cette

région marine fait partie de son aire normale de répartition, avec un

pic en hiver. Se nourrit surtout de plancton marin.

PHAETHONTIDAE

PAILLE-EN-QUEUE Phaeton ae the reus Niche au Parc National des Iles de la

Madeleine : une trentaine de couples; population en augmentation

régulière depuis 1978, époque oû seulement une dizaine de couples

survivait.

PELICANIDAE

PÉLICAN BLANC Pelecanus onocrotalus Population en orande e5Ç>ansion depuis

dix ans, résultats spectaculaires dus à la création du Parc National du

Djoudj et de la Réserve de Kalissaye oCl actuellement environ six mille

couples se reproduisent dès novembre.

1984

Oiseaux de mer, Sénégal

81

PÉLICAN GRIS Pelecanus rufescens Rare en mer, mais présent dans la partie

sud-est de l'espace marin (Casamance) ; commun également dans le delta du

Saloum et dans l'estuaire de la Gambie, en fait partout où les mangroves

subsistent.

SULIDAE

POU DE BASSAN Sula bassana Present en hivernage sur la côte, principalement

des sub-adultes mais aussi quelques adultes. Un cadavre d'adulte a été

trouvé en avril à Kalissaye. Chaque année des oiseaux mazoutés sont

trouvés au Parc National des Iles de la Madeleine.

FOU A \^vU?RE BLANC Sula leucogaster Vu à diverses reprises, notamment

au Parc National des Iles de la Madeleine, mais rare. Oiseaux provenant

certainement des colonies des îles du Cap-Vert. Vu souvent isolé dès le

mois d'octobre.

PHALACROCORACIDAE

GRAND CORMORAN Phalacrocorax carbo lucidus Connun au large de la côte et

surtout dans les eaux dakaroises, du fait de l'importante colonie du Parc

National des Iles de la Madeleine (plus de trois cents couples) . Cette

colonie provient de l'introduction de vingt cinq sub-adultes capturés au

Djoudj en 1979 et qui, à la différence des oiseaux du Parc National des

Oiseaux du Djoudj, nichent ici dans les rochers dès le mois d'octobre.

PETIT CORMORAN Phalacrocorax africanus Petit Cormoran très commun le long

de la côte, mais surtout au sud du Cap-Vert, dans le delta du Saloum et

l'estuaire de la Gambie. Sa présence est liée à la mangrove en général.

FREGATIDAE

FRÉGATE SUPERBE Fregata magnificens Espèce occasionnelle : une seule

observation dans l'estuaire de la Gambie, 24 mars 1965 (Gore 1981).

CHARADRIIDAE

PHALAROPE À BEC LARGE Phalaropus fulicarius Vu lors des mouvements

migratoires, surtout au printemps où des observations ont été faites à la

côte dans la région de Mbour (60 km SE de Dakar) , le 5 août 1979 par M.

Germain (corn. pers.). Quelques-uns observés à la pointe de Sangomar

(Saloum) en avril 1979 par J. Verschuren, (corn. pers.).

PHALAROPE A BEC ÉTROIT Phalaropus lobatus Première observation de 8

sujets le 9 décembre 1983, dans l'embouchure de la Somone, un peu au sud de

Mbour.

LARIDZÆ

GRAND LABBE Stercorarius skua Vu en hivernage au large et rare. Toutefois

cette partie de l'Atlantique représente sa zone normale d'hivernage et de

transit.

LABBE PCMARIN Stercorarius pomarinus Fréquent en hivernage, mais aussi

quelquefois au printemps près du littoral du Cap-Vert et dans les eaux

dakaroises. Parasite les milans du port de Dakar mais aussi les Sternes

Caugek .

LABBE PARASITE Stercorarius parasiticus Observé à diverses reprises :

fréquent notamment dans les eaux dalcaroises en hiver. Il vit aux dépens

des grandes troupes de Sternes caugek qu'il exploite.

82

A. R. Dupuy

MALIMBUS 6

TjABBE X LONGUE QUEUE Stercorarius longicaudus Noté quelquefois en hivernage,

notamment dans les eaux du Parc National des Iles de la Madeleine et le long

du littoral. Plus rare que les espèces précédentes.

MDUETTE MÊLANOCÊPHALE Larus melanocephalus Un sujet d'un an dans le port

de Dakar, le 7 mai (Morel & Roux 1966) ; un sujet de premier hiver capturé

au Cap-Vert, fin janvier 1972 (Doutre, M.P. in Morel 1972). En Gambie,

4 ou 5 observations en novembre et décembre, près de Banjul, de sujets

immatures sauf un adulte (Gore 1981).

MOUETTE TRIDACTYLE Larus tridactylus Un sujet observé et photographié à

Saint-Louis de mi -mars- à mi-avril 1979 (Ndao 1981) ; un autre au Parc

National des Madeleines le 31 janvier 1984 (Ard et P. Geroudet) . En Gambie,

un immature à Cap Lagoon, le 21 décembre 1975 (Gore 1981).

MOUETTE RIEUSE Larus ridibundus Commun en hivernaae tout au long des côtes

de la Sénégambie, ainsi que dans le premier tiers aval des fleuves. Se

reproduit dans le Parc National du Delta du Saloum depuis mai 1983. Deux

couples dont un couple mixte Larus ridibundus x Larus cirrhocephalus .

Il s'agit là de la première reproduction formelle pour cette espèce en

Afrique tropicale (EXipuy 1983) .

GOÉLAND RAILLEUR Larus genei Abondant et sédentaire sur tout le littoral

de la Sénégambie. Environ dix mille couples réproducteurs qui se

repartissent entre les colonies du Parc National de la Langue de Barbarie

(Latour 1973) , Parc National du Delta du Saloum et Réserve Ornithologique

de Kalissaye.

MOUETTE PYGMÉE Larus minutus Une observée à plusieurs reprises et

photographiée à Saint-Louis, en avril 1979 (Ndao 1981). En Gambie, un

immature à Kotu Stream, le 14 novembre 1977 et un sujet de second hiver au

large de Banjul Bund, le 17 novembre 1977 (Jensen & Kirkeby 1980).

MOUETTE A TÊTE GRISE Larus cirrhocephalus Plusieurs milliers de couples

reproducteurs dans les Parcs Nationaux marins. Il s'agit là de l'une des

espèces les plus abondantes du littoral sénégalais (Latour 1973).

ÎOUETTE DE SABINE Larus sabini Vu au large, notamment au moment des

mouvements migratoires. Entre autres, observation d'un oiseau à douze

milles au large du Parc National des Iles de la Madeleine, le 25 juin

1983.

GOÉLAND ARGENTÉ Larus argentatus Commun en hivernage le long de la côte

sénégalaise : plusieurs milliers.

GOÊLANID BRUN Larus fuscus Fréquent, notamment en hiver, et s'est mis à

nicher. Trois nids à l'île Téréma, Parc National du Delta du Saloum.

L'un des couples en janvier 1980 observé par Chokomian, semblait mixte :

Goéland brun x Goéland dominicain, L. dominicanus .

GOÉLAND D'AUDOUIN Larus audouinii Un immature collecté à Saint-Louis le

11 mai 1961 et un adulte observé à Gorée le 13 mars 1964 (Morel & Roux

1966) ; un adulte au nord du delta du Sine Saloum le 13 décembre 1980

(Poorter et al., corn. pers.).

NODDI BRUN Anous stolidus Un sujet malade ramassé sur la plage à Brufut

(estuaire gambien) , 6 août 1974 (Gore 1981). Très rare.

NODDI A TÊTE BLANCHE Anous tenuirostris Un sujet observé d'un bateau,

pendant 5 minutes, pêchant avec 300 sterna nigra, au large de Cap St Mary,

le 13 octobre 1977; peut-être le même sujet revu les 13 et 30 octobre dans

les environs (Gore 1981).

1984

Oiseaux de mer, Sénégal

83

STERNE HANSEL Sterna nilotica Fréquent. Il existe deux populations

différentes : l'une migratrice d'Europe, l'autre sédentaire et qui se

reproduit régulièrement au Parc National de la Langue de Barbarie :

jusqu'à deux cent couples (Latour 1973). Une petite colonie de quelques

couples à Kalissaye qui semble être la colonie la plus méridionale. Des

tentatives de reproduction également dans le Parc National du Delta du

Saloum. Espèce rare en mer et souvent observée assez profondément à

l'intérieur des terres ou elle s'est reproduite (Kaolack) .

STERNE CASPIENNE Sterna tchegrava Commun, se reproduit régulièrement

dans les Parcs Nationaux de la Langue de Barbarie (Latour 1973) , du Delta

du Saloum et Kalissaye. Au total cinq à six mille couples. Comme pour la

Sterne Hansel, deux populations fréquentent la zone étudiée : l'une

migratrice en provenance d'Europe et l'autre sédentaire qui se reproduit.

STEKSIE ROYALE Sterna maxima Très abondant sur la côte : plusieurs

colonies reproductrices importantes (quinze mille couples au total) dans

les parcs marins. Il s'agit là de l'espèce littorale et marine la plus

commune avec la Mouette à tête grise.

STERNE CAUGEX Sterna sandvicensis Coimtun aux passages et les mois d'hiver

sur toute la cOte sénégambienne. Nombreuses reprises de sujets bagués sur

les colonies occidentales mais deux reprises aussi d'oiseaux de la Mer

Noire (Morel & Roux 1966).

STERNE VOYAGEUSE Sterna bengalensis Un sujet le 9 juin, 8 le 16 juin à

Bargny, 25 km à l'est de Dakar, mêlés â d'autres sternes (Erard 1925) .

En Gambie, rare mais régulier en hiver sur la côte : la plupart à Cap

Lagoon où une vingtaine est observée annuellement depuis 1973 de

septembre à avril (Gore 1981).

STERNE DE DOUGAT^L Sterna dougallii Vu quelquefois lors de ses passages,

mais peut aussi passer inaperçu. Un couple reproducteur à Kalissaye en

mai 1980 (Chokomian, corn. pers.). La première reproduction connue en

Afrique occidentale.

STERNE PIEPBEGARIN Sterna hirundo Commun, espèce en pleine expansion.

Une colonie reproductrice de plusieurs centaines de couples à l'île aux

Oiseaux du Parc National du Delta du Saloum. Des couples également au

Parc National de la Langue de Barbarie. A Kalissaye, une petite colonie

reproductrice (quelques couples) . La population hivernante est également

nombreuse.

STERNE ARCTIQUE Sterna paradisea Un sujet bagué au Schleswig-Holstein et

repris le 5 octobre près de Rufisque (Morel & Roux 1966) ; un sujet parmi

d'autres sternes, le 21 avril, entre Ngasogil et Joal (Fr. Marie-Clement ,

corn, pers.) ; un sujet près de la mer, à l'ouest d'Oussouye, le 28 mai

1980 (A. Sala, corn. pers.). En Gambie, visiteur rare, d'avril-mai à

septembre : 5 observations (Gore 1981).

STERNE BRIDÉE Sterna anaesthetus Fréquent dès le mois de mai. Une petite

colonie reproductrice installée dès le mois de juin au Parc National des

Iles de la Madeleine.

STERNE FULIGINEUSE Sterna fuscata Rare. Un nid occupé, le 9 juillet

1954, sur l'île de Diamanio, Saloum (Naurois 1969) . Deux nids en avril

1977-1980 au Parc National de la Langue de Barbarie, un nid en mai-juin

1979 au Parc National du Delta du Saloum et chaque année depuis lors.

GUIFETTE MDUSTAC Sterna hybrida Commun aux passages d'automne (de

septembre à novonbre) et de printortps (d'avril à juillet) ; quelques-uns

hivernent au Parc National des Oiseaux du Djoudj .

84

A. R. Dupuy

MALIMBUS 6

STEFÎNE NAINE Sterna albifrons Très coirmun lors des passages, mais aussi

comme nicheur. Une colonie (quelques couples) au Parc National de la

Langue de Barbarie (Latour 1973) et à Gueumbeul (lagunes de l'estuaire du

fleuve Sénégal) mais aussi au Parc National des Oiseaux du Djoudj en juin-

juillet 1979.

GUIFETTE NOIRE Sterna nigra Très commun aux passages d'automne et de

printenps; hiverne aussi sur toute la côte.

njIFETTE LEUCOPTÈRE Sterna leucoptera Migrateur et hivernant commun tout

au long des côtes sénégalaises.

BIBLIOGRAPHIE

DEKEYSER, P.L. & DERIVOT, J. H. (1966) Les Oiseaux de l*Ouest Africain.

IF AN, Dakar

DIE, D. (1982) Les Oiseaux de Mer d'Europe. Arthaud, Paris

DIOP, I. (en prép.) Une nouvelle espèce nicheuse à Kalissaye. La Sterne

Pierregarin. Bull, ifan

DITPUY, A. R. (1979) Safari Oiseaux au Sénégal et en Gambie. Afrique

Levant, Dakar

DUPUY, A. R. (1983) Reproduction de la Mouette rieuse Larus ridibundus au

Sénégal. Oiseau & RFO 53: 294

DUPUY, A. R. (en prép.) Note sur la reproduction de la Sterne Pierregarin

(Sterna hirundo) au Sénégal. Oiseau & RFO

DUPUY, A. R. (en prép.) Quelques données nouvelles sur l'avifaune du

Sénéaal. Alauda 52 (1984) 177-1 83

ERARD, C. (1975) Données faunistiques sur quelques oiseaux du Sénégal.

Alauda 43: 313-328

GORE, M.E.J. (1981) Birds of The Gambia. British Ornithologists' Union,

London

JENSEN, J.V. , KIRKEBY, J. (1980) The Birds of The Gambia. Arhus, Denmark

LATOUR, M. (1973) Nidification de cinq espèces de Laridés au voisinage de

l'embouchure du fleuve Sénégal, oiseau & RFO 43: 89-96

^OREL, G. J. (1972) Liste commentée des Oiseaux du Sénégal et de la Gambie.

139 P . ronéotypé. ORSTOM, Dakar

MOREL, G. & ROUX, F. (1966) Les migrateurs paléarc tiques au Sénégal,

1 Non-Passereaux. Terre & Vie 19-72

NAUROIS, R. de (1969) Peuplements et Cycles de Reproduction des Oiseaux de

la côte Occidentale d'Afrique (du Cap Barbas, Sahara Espacrnol, à la

Frontière de la République de Guinée). Mémoires Muséum National d*Hist.

Nat. N. S., Sér. A, Zooloaie, 56: 312

NDAO, B. (1981) Observation simultanée de la Mouette tridactyle (Rissa

tridactyla) et de la Ftouette pygmée (Larus minutus) à Saint-Louis du

Sénégal, oiseau s RFO 51: 61-63

PEILLE, A. (1975) Nouvelle observation du Goéland d'Audouin au Sénégal.

Oiseau & RFO 45: 369

TUCK, G. & HEINZEL, H. (1978) A Field Guide to the Seabirds of Britain

and the World. Collins, London

André Roger Dupuy, Directeur des Parcs Nationaux du Sénégal,

BP 5135, Dakar Fann, Sénégal

1984

85

SOME OBSERVATIONS ON BLAa<-CROWNED AND WHITE-BACKED NIOîT HERCNS

by P. Blasdale

Received 27 January 1984

The 18 species of herons in West Africa all fish by day excepting tvo: the

Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax (Fig. 1 ) , fairly cortution

though unobtrusive, and the f?hite-backed Night Heron Gorsachius leuconotus ,

scarce and seldom observed. Both, together with 11 diurnal species, occur

in northern Nigeria on a stretch of the river Komadugu Gana (Dingaiya or

Misau river) , north-west of Potiskum. The river runs through a flood plain

up to 16 km wide and has a narrow strip of fringing forest along its banks.

Here Black-crowned Night Herons roosts in groups of 12 or more in dense low

trees, especially Syzygium guineense, overhanging the water. White-backed

Night Herons are much less often seoi; indeed only an observer working full- ‘

time in this habitat is likely to detect their presence at all.

A road running west frcm Potiskum passes about 9 km from the river at

the village of Tarajim; at this point the flood plain opens out to a large

grassy 'fadama' swanp known as Maburtata, with a band of close-set Mitragyna

inermis trees about 0.5 km long and 50 m wide at the western side. The

water level fluctuates seasonally, but at the time of these observations the

general depth over the fadama was about 1-1.5 m, choked with long grass so

that many birds even Goliath Herons Ardea goliath, could stand easily on it;

within the tree belt there was about 30 cm of open weedless dark-coloured

water over a mud bottom.. The trees stand only a few metres apart, forming a

closed canopy, with some ej^sed roots giving a mangrove-like appearance in

places .

On 14 March 1959 I set up a photographic hide of 'zana' grass matting

here, in a part of the tree belt occupied by an unusually large roost of

Black-crowned Night Herons. On 23 March I installed myself at 0550 hrs,

before sunrise and with the sky beginning to lighten, and made the follow-

ing observations until vacating the hide at 1600 h, (recorded times are

approximated to the nearest 5 mins) .

0555 h Numerous night herons flying about, near to and among trees; "kwark"

call.

0615 h Birds all settled; sun clear above horizon.

0630 h One bird went down to a horizontal branch a little over a foot from

water surface, stayed gazing down.

0645 h Caught 8 cm fish {Tilapia sp.?) by reaching down from perch in manner

of a Greei-backed Heron Butorides striatus (Fig. 1). In this action,

bird moved down and back again quite slowly, maintaining impossible-

looking attitude by grip on perch.

Until 1 to "many" birds fishing. Three more fish caught: (1) Synodontis

0830 h sp. about 8 cm long, caught by reaching down, as previous one;

bird rubbed it against branch, repeatedly dipped it in water, finally

swallowed it. (2) Hydrocyon sp. about 25 cm. long (Fig. 2) ; caught

by plunging into water; bird moved about restlessly, shifting it in

beak; moved out of view. (3) Smaller fish of same appearance as

(2) , caught by darting about at shallow edge, in manner of Little

Egret Egretta garzetta; wings used for balance.

If

1984

Night herons

87

0845 h No bird showing any interest in water,* neny sleeping.

0930 h One down to drink; reached down from high perch, apparently got

very little water.

0935 h Two down together; each caught c. 5 cm fish by reaching down;

one of them, after swallowing fish, did not wipe beak on branch but

passed point of shining black tongue several times from tip of

beak to comer of gape; others seen doing this at other times.

1050 h One drinking.

1200 h 20 birds visible within 15 m of hide; most more or less awake, and

panting with vibrating throat.

1445 h Three birds drinking together.

1500 h An adult bathing.

1505 h Two juveniles junped into shallow part and waded about pecking at

surface; after few minutes began bathing. An adult bathed further

away.

1520 h Bathers came out, except first adult w^ich moved into deeper water

and swam out of sight. Bathing actions: (a) body held horizontally

in water (Fig. 3) ; (b) sudden dip, with flapping wings, lasting

only a few seconds; (c) sitting down, erect, with forepart of body

above surface; remaining motionless for many minutes (Fig. 4) .

First adult repeated this series of actions twice; both juveniles

performed only (a) and (c) ; second adult only (c) , diming out

once and returning. Earlier, another bird plunged in, perhaps after

a fish, and remained swimming easily about for almost a minute in

water 33 cm deep (Fig. 5) .

1600 h No great activity. Birds sometimes moving restlessly, occasionally

squabbling. Drinking was seen at least every half hour during day,

tut not all birds drank and some did so several times. Apparently

none stayed in one place all day, and some moved extensively.

Almost constant conversation in a variety of notes: most commonly

a loud 'wok-keuwok-keuwDk' and a soft ' uwark-uwark-uwark ' ; also a

soft 'warkwarkwarkwark' continuously for long periods; 'wDok-woke-

wauk-wark-waak-waak-waak ' ; a soft, rising 'how how. . .how. . . ' ;

a staccato 'heh-heh“heh~heh~. . . ' of protest by loser of squabble;

'kwark' loud and ringing, slightly hoarse - flight call; and

various snarling notes during squabbles.

The birds seoned to dislike the attention of flies, and snapped

irritably at them. They paid no attention to a Green Monkey

Cercopithecus aethiops , and very little to a Chanting Goshawk

Melierax metabates . A Goliath Heron roaring outside on the fadama

seened to cause some disturbance among the night herons nearest to

it. On a subsequent visit to Maburtata on 19 April 1959 I noted,

further, that at

1828 h (twilight) Black-crowned Night Herons were very noisy and 30

circled high; and at

1835 h they settled on the fadama near trees; then to

1850 h increasing numbers - about 130 - flew out to the fadama (and three

to the river) . After that it was too dark to continue observation.

This activity may be contrasted with that observed during a similar period

Vihen I watched a T'^Jhite-backed Night Heron from a 35-day-old hide on 5 May

1958: it arrived in full daylight at 0605 h settled itself in dense

foliage (Fig. 6) , and never moved more than about a metre until I left at

1630 h. All five of the roosts of this species that I have known were in

dense Syzygium and young Diospyros mespiliformis over dry land some metres

from the river bank; each was occupied by a single bird except once vAien

there were t\\0 together. None ever made any sound, even when disturbed.

88

P. Blasdale

MALIMBUS 6

Evidently Black-crowned Night Herons are less coirpletely nocturnal than

l-tiite-backed ; the size of their eyes is noticeably different, and the

huge eyes of the latter species are shown in Figs. 7 and 8. No observations

were made on the Black-crowned Night Heron groups in their more usual type of

roost in the riverside Syzygium, and it is possible that the activity seen

at r4aburtata was not typical. That small area of still water received the

droppings of at least 128 Night Herons by day, at least 163 assorted v^ite

Herons by night, and a large nesting colony of several species of water

birds up to early January. It must have been heavily polluted, and if fish

straying in from the fadama became distressed - all the captures that I saw

seened easy, though I never saw any moribund fish - their presence might

have had a disruptive influence on the birds' sleeping habits.

P. Blasdale, 53 Argyll Place, Aberdeen AB2 4HU , Scotland, UK

89

Figures 6-8 White-backed

Night Heron Gorsachias

leuconotus. See text.

90

MALIMBUS 6

RINHING IN NIGERIA IN 1983. 26th ANNUAL REPORT

by R.E. Sharland

Received 4 February 1984

In the absence of any resident rinaers in Nigeria, fewer birds were marked

than in previous years. During seven months' visit in 1983, I ringed 224

Palearctic birds in the Jekara reedbeds and in scrub near Kano Zoo.

No recoveries of Nigerian-ringed birds were reported during the year but

details of an Osprey and twD White Storks trapped in Nigeria are shown in

Schedule 2. They are the 16th Osprey and 32nd/33rd Wliite Storks reported to

date. The storks are caught by trappers from a village 10 km from Nguru in

Bomu State. Three years ago a report on their illegal activities resulted

in prosecution in Bomu State; unfortunately in Kano State little attenpt

is made to enforce the law and the trappers have a free hand. Storks play

a role in control of grasshoppers; as both the Marabou Stork and Abdiin's

Stork are now sadly reduced in numbers in North Nigeria, it is vital that

strict conservation measures be introduced.

I visited Kagoro four times. No forest birds have been ringed there for

2.5 years, yet 51% of the birds that I caught were recaptures. Details of

some of them are shown in Schedule 3.

Schedule 1 Numbers of Palearctic species ringed

1983 Total to date

Grand Total

330

72943

1984

NOTES

91

Schedule 2 Controls in Nigeria of Palearctic birds

Osprey Pandion haliaetus

M14492 Ringed. 16 July 1981. Taioalsari, Saima, Finland. 61*^10'N,

2S°11'E.

Controlled 25 Dec 1981. Falgore 10^50 'N, 8°40'E.

Vlhite Stork Ciconia ciconia

2481 Ringed 23 June 1979. Erlangen (Cerrnany) 49^36 'N, 10^58 'E.

Controlled 00 Jan 1982. Nguru 12°53'N, 10^28 'E.

0733 Ringed 22 June 1975. Osterburg (Cemany) 52°59'N, 11°36'E.

Controlled 00 Jan 1982. Nguru.

Schedule 3 Controls at Kagoro of Afrotropical birds

Bluebill Spermophaga haematina. Ringed 10 Nov 1978.

Controlled 16 July 1983,

White throated Creenbul Phyllastrephus albigularis . Ringed 12 July 1980.

Controlled 16 July 1983.

Green Camaroptera Camaroptera chloronata . Ringed 20 May 1979.

Controlled 16 July 1983.

Moloney's Illadopsis Trichastoma fulvescens . Ringed 12 July 1980.

Controlled 18 Sept 1983.

NESTLING-FEEDING BEHAVIOUR OF LESSER TOP HœPOES - In the members of the

Phoeniculus aterrimus-P . cyanomelas complex there are various degrees of

sexual diiTorphism in the bill, and sexually different calls (N.C. Davidson,

Bull. Niger. Orn. Soc . 12, 1976; 2-17). The following obseirvations of the

behaviour of a pair at the nest may have sorae relevance to these t^

points.

On three occasions between 20 April and 1 May 1960, near Sabon Gari

(about 10O45'N, OO^^E) in Nigeria, I watched a pair of Lesser \<!ooô Hoopoes

P. aterrimus at their nest hole about 1.5 m fron the ground in a Comb re turn

trunk. Observations were made from a photographic hide of natural materials

to \A^ich the birds had. become habituated, 4 m from the nest. The pair

always foraged in company and arrived together near the nest at intervals

of about 15 minutes, the male calling 'kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa' , something like the

sotto-voce sound of a domestic duck (the "male call") , and the female

replied with a soft, wheezing 'see-see-see-see' (the "female call") .

The female always flew directly to the nest hole and entered, calling to

the nestlings with the "male call" ^nile her mate waited higher on the

trunk; she then came to the mouth of the hole and, uttering now the

"female call", received the male's food item and carried it into the nest.

Adult males have a black gape or mouth lining, juveniles yellow. The

92

NOTES

MALIMBUS 6

Figure 1 Lesser Wood Hoopoes at nest. Left, female; right, female

above and male below.

lining of the female's gape was light yellow - another point of sex

distinction; this fact, and the infantile character of the "female call",

gave the impression of a nestling soliciting food from a parent.

This routine was invariably followed and the male never entered the nest

Indeed., vdien on one occasion he flew ahead of his mate and alighted first

at the mouth of the hole, the pair was completely nonplussed and both had

to fly away again to begin afresh.

Such food as I could clearly see consisted of spiders and mantids,

brought singly.

If the behaviour noted here is general, one might conjecture that any

foraging advantage of a longer bill for the male schalowi is outweighed in

the female by the need for manoeuvre in the confines of the nest hole.

Philip Blasdale

53 Argyll Place, Aberdeen AB2 4HY , Scotland, UK

1984

NOTICES

93

BIRDS OF THE REPUBLIC OF NIGER

Un travail est actuellement entrepris pour rassembler les documents existant

sur l'avifaune de la république du Niger. L'équipe qui s'en est chargée

souhaite enrichir cette compilation des observations non-publiées. li est

demandé aux personnes désireuses de collaborer à ce projet de faire

parvenir ces données, quel que soit leur nombre, leur ancienneté ou leur

intérêt apparent, à l'adresse suivante ;

Patrick Giraudoux, 7 rue de la Pocher ie, 55200 Comraercy, France.

Research work is being undertaken to assemble documents on the avifauna of

the Republic of Niger. Unpublished observations are solicited. People

wishing to contribute are asked kindly to send their data - vÆiatever their

volume, age or apparent interest - to me at the above address.

BIRDS OF SENEGAL AND GAMBIA

La "Liste commentée des oiseaux du Sénégal et de la Gambie" (1972) et son

"Supplément" (1980) par Gérard J. IVkDrel, sont maintenant épuisés.

Une nouvelle édition, entièrement revue, accompagnée de cartes de

distribution à l'échelle du degré carré, est en préparation. En attendant

sa parution, qui ne pourra avoir lieu avant 1986, Gérard J. Morel tient à

la disposition de ceux qui lui en feraient la demande une simple liste

(sans texte, ni cartes) des espèces recensées en Sénégambie avec

signalement de leur présence/absence par degré carré. Ce docuiment ronéotypé

de 30 pages + 1 carte est à demander à :

Station d' Ecologie, Office de la Recherche Scientifique et Technicjue Outre-Mer,

BP 20, Richard-Toll , Sénégal.

Une contribution de 30 FF, ou son équivalent en imonnaie étrangère, sera

versée à G. J. MOREL à son compte postal ;

PARIS 7 682 63 Z ou à son compte bancaire : Crédit Agricole - CAEN,

005 410 336 00.

The 'Annotated list of the birds of Senegal and The Gambia' (1972) and its

'Supplement' (1980) by G.J. Morel is now out of print. A new, entirely

revised version, with 1°“square distribution maps, is being prepared but is

unlikely to appear before 1986. A 30-page list of species, without text or

rmaps but with presence per square-degree of range indicated, can be had

from the author by request to:

Station d' Ecologie, O.R.S.T.O.M. , B.P. 20, Richard-TOll , Senegal.

A contribution of FF 30 or equivalent should be made to G.J. Morel at Paris

7 682 63 Z or to his account at Crédit Aaricole - Caen, 005 410 336 00.

94

NOTES

MALIMBUS 6

Upper ficrare: Juvenile Levaillant's CXickoo Clama tor levaillanti

acœmpanied by adult Brown Babblers Turdoides plebejus,

The Gainbia, June 1983. Photos: Miberley Moore.

Lower figure: Brown Babbler Turdoides plebejus at nest, The Gainbia.

Photo: Michael Gore.

1984

NOTES

95

I;EVAILLWr'S CUa<OQ CLÂMATOR LEVÂILLANTI FED BY BABBLERS TURDOIDES

PLEBEJUS “ Levaillant’s Cuckoo clama tor levaillanti is a coiruron breedina

visitor in The Gambia, arriving just before the onset of the rains.

Throughout Africa it parasitizes babblers of the genus Turdoides; in The

Gambia it has teen recorded as parasitizing Blackcap Babblers T. reinwardti

and there are also records of young beina fed by Brown Babblers T. plebejus

(Gore 1981, Birds of The Gambia, B.O.U., London). The only other host,

any^iere in Africa, is the Chestnut-tellied Starling Spreo pulcher

(Lamarche 1980, Malimbus 2: 149; Gore, op. cit.) .

An adult Levaillant's Cuckoo was seen in the Medical Research Council

Compound at Fajara in The Gambia (13°27'N 1 6*^34 'W) on 15 June 1983, 3 days

before the first rain of the season, and yiat was probably the same bird

was seen several times until 4 Septanber. During the second week of

October an inmature Levaillant's Cuckoo was seen in the same compound with

a party of four adult Browi Babblers. The babblers fed on the ground,

turning over fallen leaves, but the Cuckoo made no attenpt to feed itself.

It M3uld advance towards one of -the babblers with its wings slightly raised

and trenbling and it cried continuously until fed. Only tw3 of the

babblers fed it, and #ien it sometimes importuned the 'wrong' babbler, it

was ignored.

On 20 October a young Levaillant's Cuckoo was seen in the compound

malting short flights from the top of a Casuarina tree; the cry resembled

that of an adult bird.

Amterley I'toore

1 Uppingham Road, Oakham, Rutland LE15 6JB, UK

NOTES ON THE NESTING OF TWO LITTLE KNCWN SPECIES OF BEE-EATERS IN CAMEROUN -

^nF'œnSctïng~surviÿs'‘foFThe InternatÎŒÏircouncil for Bird

Preservation's expedition to montane forests of the Republic of Cameroun, J

had the opportunity to observe nesting activities of Blue-breasted Bee-

eaters Merops variegatus and Black Bee-eaters M. gularis . Little is known

of the breeding biology of M. variegatus .

Nests have been found in Cameroun, Zaire, Tanzania, Zambia and Ethiopia,

but none have been described in detail (C.H. Fry, 1984, The Bee-eaters,

Poyser, p. 62) . Blue-breasted Bee-eaters were common on Mt. Manengouba

crater (5 03'N, 9°50'E, altitude 1900-2300 m) , and less cormon on Mt. Oku

(6®12'N, 10 28'E, altitude 2200-2400 m) , They were not present above 2400

m on Mt, Oku even though apparently suitable habitat was available up to

3000 m. Seven pairs on Mt. Manengouba, ^ich occupied burnt-over areas,

had already begun breeding activities (allofeeding, copulation, nest

excavation and egg-laying) by 21 February. One pair excavated a 50 cm tunnel

with incomplete chamber tvio days after a bum. In unbumt areas birds were

less advanced with nesting. One male offered a female a grasshopper and a

tug-or-war ensued ^ich ended with the male consuming the insect; another

pair foraged and sat together for an hour with no allofeeding or courtship

attempts. All pairs on Mt. Oku occupied burned areas by March 31, vhen

two nests were found. Thus it seems that in the Cameroun highlands Blue-

breasted Bee-eaters wait for their territories to bum before they commence

96

NOTES

MALIMHJS 6

breeding. It may not be possible for them to choose or dig at suitable

nesting sites until the dense, dry, metre-high grass has burned. This must

mean that birds may experience a long wait in a condition of near readiness

to breed before a territory becomes suitable. In Cameroun, v\Æiere these

bee-eaters occur, people bum the grass annually in the mid to late dry

season in order to provide new green forage for livestock.

Tunnels were typically dug into the sides of cuts along cattle paths

v\iiich traversed all the grasslands of Mt. Manengouba and Mt. Oku. On Mt.

Manengouba four nests were examined on 21 and 22 February. Their tunnel

lengths averaged 60 (45-75) cm, and twD faced east, one north, and one

south. Two egg chambers measured 16.5 x 22.0 and 19.5 x 18.0 cm. The first

two examined contained three eggs each (one clutch fresh and the other well-

incubated) and the second two had no eggs. On Mt. Oku two nests were

examined on 31 March, one with four fresh eggs and one with three nest lines.

Average egg dimensions of 10 eggs were 21.6 x 16.8 (20.1-24.0 x 14.8-18.1)

mm. The nestlings were naked but with feather tufts just beginning to

appear on the tertials; two weighed 12.8 and 12.6 g and were equally

developed; the third had died several days earlier. This species may

undergo 'brood reduction' during adverse weather conditions vhen food may

be scarce, as do other bee-eaters (M. Dyer, 1979, unpubl. Ph.D. thesis,

Aberdeen University) . Unseasonably early rains, followed by three days of

dry 'Harmattan' weather in the previous week, may have caused the early

death of the third nestling.

An adult caught at the nest weighed 22.2 g, had a brood patch and a

small cloaca, suggesting that it was male. It had been brooding the youna

viiile its mate provisioned the nest. Of more than 30 pairs observed no

supernumerary birds v/ere seen, although that does not rule out the

possibility of helpers at the nest as reported for other bee-eaters (M.

Dyer & C.H. Fry, 1980, Acta 17 Int.' Orn. Congr . , 862-868; C.H. Fry, 1972,

Ibis, 114, 1-14.

Blue-breasted Bee-eaters were solitary and appeared to occupy territories

v^ich did not overlap appreciably with neighbours. On Mt. Manengouba the

steep slopes of the crater leading to the larger of the two lakes were

densely inhabited with breeding pairs. No agonistic behaviour was observe^''

but data are too few to draw any conclusions about territoriality in this

species. On Mt. Oku pairs were too sparsely distributed for any inter-

actions to occur.

One Black Bee-eater nest was found on the shallow banks of a small

forest river in Korup National Park near Mundemba (5^03 'N, 8^50 'E) on 4

March. A bird flying from the nest entrance underfoot perched on a dead

limb and gave alarm calls. An adult trapped at the nest weighed 29.9 g

and had a brood patch, but its sex could not be determined. The nest

tunnel was 58 cm long, dug in soft sandy loam. Two fresh eggs measured

25.1 x 18.0 and 24.2 x 19.3 mm. Since the nest contained no frass it is

possible that incubation had only begun and that the clutch was not yet

corrplete .

I wish to thank Dr. Simon Stuart for assistance in the field and Dr.

Michael Dyer for commenting on an earlier draft.

M. E. Gartshore

RR ft 3, Dundas, Ontario L9H 5E3 , Canada

WEST AFRICAN ORNITHOLOCICAL SOCIETY

SOCIÉTÉ D'ORNIIHOLOGIE DE L'OUEST AFRICAIN

REVENUE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 1983

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31st DECEMBER 1983

Assets

6th pan- AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL CONGRESS

6 PAOC will be held in Franc is town ^ Botswana, from 29 March to 4 April 1985.

Partie ipants/delecfa tes are requested to write to D.A. Turner, P.O. Box

48109, Nairobi, Kenya, for Registration Form, further details, and to be

placed on his PAOC mailing list.

MALIMBUS 6 October 1984

CONTENTS

Editorial 1

Variation in Eye Colour of Blue-eared Glossy Starlings.

R. Wilkinson 2-4

Long-tailed Nightjar Drinking in Flight. Alan Tye 4

ICBP Cameroon Montane Forest Survey. S.N. Stuart 5-7

Eye Size in Oena and Turtur. C.H. Fry 8-10

The Status of the Pygmy Kingfisher Ceyx picta in Northeastern

Nigeria. P.J. Jones 11 - 14

Further Bird Records from the Republic of Togo. Robert A.

Cheke and J. Frank Walsh 15-22

Aspects of the Breeding Biology of Carmine and Little Bee-

eaters at Zaria, Nigeria. Michael Dyer 23 - 30

The Birds of Mauritania. John P. Gee 31 - 66

Ear-tufts in a Glaucidium Owl. Richard Farmer 67 - 69

Request for Information* Clamator hosts. M.P.S. Irwin and

J.F.R. Colebrook-Robjent . 69

Additional Bird Records from Bamingui-Bangoran National Park^

Central African Republic. Arthur A. Green 70 - 72

Découverte du Moineau Doré Passer luteus dans l'Extrâne Sud

de l'Algérie en Relation avec le PeuplCTient du Nord du

Niger. J. -P. Jacob et R. de Schaetzen 73 - 74

Seven New Species for Conakry, Guinea. P.W.P. Browne 74

Evolutionary Trends in the Sandgrouse (Pteroclidae) .

G.L. Maclean 75 - 78

Synthèse sur les Oiseaux de Mer Observés au Sénégal.

A. R. Dupuy 79 - 84

Some Observations on Black-crowned and White-backed Night

Herons. P. Blasdale 85 - 89

Ringing in Nigeria 1983. 26th Annual Report. R.E. Sharland 90 - 91

Nestling-feeding Behaviour of Lesser Wood Hoopoes. P.

Blasdale 91-92

Notices 93 , 97

Levaillant's Cuckoo Clamator levaillanti fed by Browi

Babblers Turdoides plebejus. Amberley Moore 94 ~ 95

Notes on the Nesting of Two Little Knowi Species of Bee-

eaters in Cameroon. M.E. Gartshore 95-96

MALIMBUS

Journal of the

West African Ornithological Society

Société d’Ornithologie de l’Ouest Africain

INDEX

Vols 1 - 6 ( 1979 - 1984)

Compiled by J.H. Elgood

>

INDEX

MALIMBUS ¥ols*l - 6 (1979°1984)

Part I Systematic Names (fols 1 - 6)

Part II Authors and Contents (fols 1-5, followed by

separate list for Vol 6)

The Index does not Include references to Chappuls* Discography

of African Birds (¥ol 2; 1-15 and 82-98), which names a large

percentage of all African bird species.

I SYSTEMATIC, NAMES

1

Acanthis cannabina 6) 64

Accipitep badius 1) 23 37 99 2) 17 51 59 119 137 3) 14 105

4) 97 5) 67 6) 43

erythropus 1) 23 2) 51 3) 105

(maoroscelides) ~ toussenelii 2)' 137

melanoleuous 1) 49 2) 137 3) 105 5) 25 6) 16 70

minullus 2) 136

nisus 2) 136 4) 80

toussenelii 1) 49 4) 97

Accipitridae 5) 47 48

Aorocephalus arundinaoeus 1) 27 2) 52 3) 39 69 70 83 4) 83

106 5) 78

boetioatus 4) 107

cinnamomeus 3) 84

gracilipostris 4) 107

paludicola 3) 84 4) 83 6) 60

palustris 3J 30 ,

106 4) 66 97 5) 26 67 6) 45

i Aegypiinae 5} 47 48

I Aegypius monachus 2) 7 4) 20

I (^Torgos) tracheliotus 1) 20 23 97 2) 105 3) 105

■■(Aerops) - Merops albicollis 2), 153

Agapornis pullaria 3) 19 4) 22^ 3) 26

( Agrobates) ~ Cercotrichas galaototes 3) 81

Alaemon alaudipes 2) 35 3) 73 4) 91 56

I Alcedo (=Corythovnis} cristata 1) 26 39 51 60 2) 18 52 66 3) 20

4) 58 66 100 5) 27 69

Corythovnis) leuoogaster 1) 60

\ quadribvaohys 1) 25 51 2) 66 116 162 4) 66 5) 27

i Alethe diademata 1) 52 63 3) 50

I Alopochen aegyptiaca 1) 96 2) 132 3) 13 5) 25 66 0) 40

UAlsenonax) = Musaicapa aquaticus 3) 78

Amadina fasaiata 1} 141 142 2) 48 3) 28 97 5) 72

Amandava suhflava 2) 53 118 3) 11 29 4) 68 5) 30

6) 66

- 2 ~

(Amaurestes) =Lônohura fringiltoides 3) 97

(Amauromis) =Limnooorax ftaoivostris 2) 119

AmblyOspiza albifrons 1) 40 64

Ammomanes cinctuvus 2) 35 3) 53 74 4) 91

deserti 2) 36 3) 53 74 6 ) 56

dunni 3) 74

Anapleotes metanotis 3) 96

(Anapleotes) = Malimbus rubrioeps 1) 2

Anas acuta 1) 43 97 2) 131 3) 13 4) 72 74 80 86 89 5) 25 6) 41

angus tiros tris 1) 69 97 2) 131

capensis 1) 96 3) 13

alypeata 1) 97 2) 59 131 3) 14 4) 72 74 80 84

orecaa 1) 23 96 2} 131 3) 13 4) 80 5) 25 ^

hottentota 3) 8 11

penelope 2) 131 3) 13 4) 46 80

platyrhynchos 2) 131 4) 80

querquedula 1) 43 44 97 2) 72 131 3) 13 40 4) 56 72 74 80 89

5) 66 6) 41

sparsa 2) 131

strepera 2) 131 3) 13 4) 80

Anastomus lamettigerus 1) 19 23 95 2) 114 130 3) 1 13 104

5) 24 56 66

Andropadus aurvirostris 1) 48

(=Stelgidillas) graoilirostris 1) 52 62 4) 101

gracilis 1) 52 62

latirostris 1) 52 62 montanus 6) 5

Virens 1) 52 62

Anhinga rufa 1) 22 55 56 2) 57 128 3) 8 12 104 4) 65

5) 57 128 6) 38

Anomalospiza imberbis 3) 97 4) 107 Anous stolidus 6) 82

Anser fabalis 2) 132 4} 80 albifrons 6) 40 tenuirostris 6) 82

(Anthoscopus) - Remiz parvulus 3) 91

punctifrons 3) 91

6) 19

cervinus 1) 26 43 2) 38 52 54 3) 22 76 4) 73 75 82 89 6) 63

leucophrys 1) 52 62 2) 19 52 54 117 3) 22 75 6) 63

novaeseelandiae 2) 37 3) 22 76

pratensis 4) 82 6) 63 richardi 6) 63

trivialis 1) 26 43 62 2) 37 3) 22 39 76 4) 10 73 75 82

89 5) 70 6 ) 62

Apalis pulchella 3) 26 Apalls jacksoni 6)57

rufogularis 1) 53 63 pulchra 6) 7

Apaloderma narina 4) 46 5) 27 sharp! i 6) 7

Apodidae 5) 47

Apus aequatorialis 4) 100

’affinis 1) 25 38 39 50 60 2) 18 32 52 65 119 158 3) 20

4) 100 107 5) 27 69 6) 53

apus 1) 25 50 60 2) 18 23 32 158 3) 20 4) 82 100 5) 27 6 )17 18 53 79

batesi 3) 49

caffer 1) 25 50 2) 116 3) 20 6 ) 17 18

- 3 -

Apus

(-Taohymarptis) melba 1) 25 2) 158 6) 17

pallidus 2) 52 158 4) 82 107 6) 53

Aquila olanga 2) 135 chrysaetus 6) 34 41

pomarina 2) 135

rapax 1) 23 100 2) 17 59 114 135 3) 15 105 5) 67 16 42 70

verveauxii 2) 135

wahlbergi 1) 24 100 2) 59 135 3) 15 65 105 4) 56 5) 67

Ardea oinevea 1) 23 49 94 2) 51 58 119 128 3) 12 104 4) 19

66 72 74 80 89-91 96 6) 24 66 6) 38

goliath 1) 23 2) 58 128 3) 12 104 4) 19 96 5) 24 66 85

melanoeephala 1) 23 49 94 2) 16 119 128 3) 12 62 65 104

4) 19 66 5) 24 66

(-Fyvrhevodia) purpurea 1) 23 37 49 94 2) 51 58 119 3) 12

104 4) 66 80 91 96 5) 24 66 6) 38

( Ardeirallus ) = Ixobryehus sturmii 2) 129

Ardeola (=Bubulous) ibis 1) 23 37 49 93' 2) 16 23 51 57' 3) 12

104 4) 65 91 96 5) 21 24 66 e) 39

raltoides 1) 22 37 49 93 2) 51 57 129 3) 12 104 4) 55 65

80 91 96 5) 24 66 6) 15 39

( Ardeotis) “ Otis arabs 2) 140 6) 44

Arenaria interpres 1) 107 2) 51 62 143 4) 72 74 81 89 98

(Argya) = Turdoides fulva 2) 149 3) 76 6) 58

Artamus melanops 3) 57

Artomyias fuliginosa 1) 53

ussheri 4) 102

Asio oapensis 1) 21 25 2) 154 3) 19 5) 31-33

flammeus 2) 154 4) 82 85 92 5) 33 6) 52

(Auripasser) = Passer luteus 3) 95 5) 90 6) 65 73

Avioeda ououloides 1) 50 59 2) 134 3) 15 105 6) 16

Aythya ferina 2) 131 3) 14 4) 80

fuligula 2) 131 3) 14 4) 80

nyrooa 2) 131 3) 14 4) 80 5) 25

Baeopogon indicator 1) 52 62 4) 67

Balearioa pavonina 1) 19 24 89 103 2) 60 115 140 3) 11 16 106-

4) 21 5) 25 67 6) 16 44

Batts orientalis 5) 29 6) 71

senegalensis 1) 27 2) 20 24 3) 26 62 69 78 4) 60 67 5) 70 ^2

Bias musious 1) 53

Bleda oanioapilla 1) 52 62 3) 77

syndaotyla 1) 52

Bombylonax ( -Merops) breweri 3) 51 5) 23 »

Bostrychia ( -Hag edashia) hagedash 1) 23 49 2) 17 114 130 3) 13

104 4) 55 66^ 5) 24 66

Botaurus stellaris 3) 12 5) 24 6) 39

Bradornis pallidus 1) 27 40 63 2) 20 3) 26 78 5) 70

Bradypterus baboecala 3) 24

Branta herniola 4) 80

Bubalornis albirostris 2) 47 3) 28 94 5) 71 ^5

Bubo africanus 1) 25 2) 31 116 155 3) 19 5) 27 68

ascalephus 2) 31 155 3) 54 6) 52

bubo 2) 31 3) 53 6) 52

laoteus 1) 20 25 2) 155 5) 68

poensis 3) 49 5) 27

(Bubulcus) = Ardeda ibis 1) 114-116 2) 114 129 4) 6 19 55 5) 90 6) 39

Buoanetes githagineus

Bucoanodon duchaillui

Bucevotidae 5) 47

Bucorvus ahy ssinicus

5) 28 69

Buphagus afrioanus 1)

S) 29 71 6) 64

Burhinidae 5) 47

Burhinus oapensis 1)

oedicnemus 2) 141

senegalensis 1) 24

5) 21 26 67 6) 48

vermioulatus 5) 67

~ 4 ^

3) 99 4) 13

1) 51

6) 18

6) 48

Butastur rufipennis 1) 23 99 2) 17 11

4) 56 66 5) 21 25 67

Buteo auguralis 1) 23 49 99 2) 51 59

4) 56 66 5) 21 25 67

buteo 2) 59 136 3) 2-5 4) 5-8 80

oreophilus 4) 7

rufinus 2) 136 3) 2-5 14 4) 5 7 46

Butorides stviatus 1) 23 49 94 2) 51

4) 65 96 5) 24 66 6) 39 85 86

By cants tes cylindrious 5) 28

fistulator 1) 51 61 2) 153 4) 58

suboyltndrtcus 5) 28

4 136 3) 14 105

114 136 3) 15 105

6) 33 42

74 80 89 6) 42 vulpinus 6)

57 119 129 3) 12 104

5) 28

34

( Calamoctohla) ~ Acrocephalus rufusaens 3) 84

Calandrella braohydaotyla 2) 36 3) 53 74 4) 75-77 82 84

89-92 5)90 6) 56 rufescens 6 ) 56

Calidvis alba 1) 107 2) 52 63 70 4)81 6) 46

alpina 2)143 4) 72 74 81 89 98 5)93 6) 46

cahUtus 2)52 62 143 4) 72 74 81 89 6) 46

cocorZt 2) 62

fevTuginea 1)44 107 3) 17 4)72 74 81 89 98 5)90 6) 46

minuta 1)24 43 107 2) 52 62 71 143 3)17 4)72 74 81 89

98 105 5) 68 6) 46

temminckii 1)107 2) 143 3) 17 66 70 4) 72 74 81 89 70

testaoea 2)143 Calopterocles 6) 76

Camaroptera braohyura )) 27 40 53 63 2)19 45 53 3)26 0) 62 71

4( 67 102 5) 29 70

brevioaudata (^braohyura) 2)119 3)85

ohloTonota 1) 63 3) 85 4) 50 6) 91

supevciliaris 1.53 63

Campephaga phoenioea D 27 52 62 2) 19 21 24 52 54 117

3) 24 89 4)101 5) 29 78 6) 19

quiscalina 3) 89

Campephagidae 5) 47

Campethera abingoni 1)26 2)157

caillautii 5) 28 6) 71

maculosa 2) 157

nivosa 1) 51 61 2)157 4)101

punctuligera 1) 26 144 2) 52 67 119 157 3) 21 68 70

5) 28 69 6) 55

- 5 -

(Capella) ~ Gallinago gatlinago 2) 142

(Capella) - Gallinago media 2) 142

Capitonidae 6) 47

Caprimulgidae 5) 47

Caprimulgus aegyptius 2) 156 4) 82 6 ) 17 5 2

carolinensis 5) 6 13 14

Caprimulgus (-Seotomis) olimaaurus 1) 25 39 50 60 2) 18 32 52 65 3J 20

67 4) 100 5) 5-16 21 27 69 4 53 aegyptius 6) 17 52

eupopaeus 2) 155 3) 20 68 5) 6 6) 52

eximius 2) 156 3) 67 6) 53

inoratus 1) 60 2) 156 3) 67 4) 107 5) 69 6) 52

rufioollis 2) 155 3} 67 70 4) 82 6) 52

rufigena 3) 19 20 5) 7

tristigma 1) 25 2) 72 156

Carduelis ohloris 3) 69 70

Centropus (griltii) ~ toulou 1) 39 2) 52

leuaogaster 1) 48 60 2) 150 4) 65 66

monaohus 1) 60 2) 150 5) 27

senegalensis 1) 25 39 50 60 2) 17 52 65 119 150 3) 19 4) 65 66 99

5) 27 69 6) 5 2

toulou - (grillii) 3) 19

Ceratogyma atrata 1) 51

elata 1) 51 2) 153

Cereomela familiaris 1) 27 2) 41 3) 24 80 4) 59 5) 29 6 ) 19

metanura 2) 41 3) 80

SQotoceroa 2) 41

CevGotriahas (=Agrobates) galaototes 1) 43 65 2) 42 3) 24 4) 83 5) 70 6> ) 59

podobe 2) 41 68 3) 24 81 5) 70 6} 58

Cevyte (^egaoeryle) maxima 1) 25 51 147 2) 116 3) 20 4) 58 66 100

5) 27 6) 18 53 70

rudis 1) 25 51 60 2) 52 66 119 152 3) 20 4) 66 100 5) 27 69 53

Cettia oetti 3) 25

Ceyx (^Ispidina) piota 1) 25 51 60 2) 32 52 3) 20 4) 53-54 100 108

5) 27 69 6) 11-13

Ceuthmochares aereus 1) 50 60 4) 46 6 ) 17

Chaetura (-Neatrapus) oassini 1) 51

(-Raphidura) sabini 1) 51

(-TelBcanthura) ussheri 1) 39 3 J 20 5J 69

( Chaloomitra) ~ Nectarinia senegalensis 3) 94

Charadi^ius alexandrinus 1) 106 2) 61 141 3) 17 4) 81 91 6) 45

asiaticus 2) 141 3) 17 4) 81

dubius 1) 43 50 106 2) 17 51 61 141 3) 17 106 4) 66 72 74 81 89 5) 26 5) 45

forbesi 1) 50 59 2) 51 115 5} 26 6) 16

hiaticula 1) 106 2) 51 61 141 3) 16 4) 72 74 81 89 98 105 5) 26 90 6) 45

imrginatus 2) 51 141 3) 17

pecuarius 2) 61 142 3) 8 17 4) 46 6) 45

tricollaris 2) 142 3) 17 106

(Chelictinia)- Elanus riooourii 4) 56

(Chettusia) =Vanellus leuaura 5)90

(Chlidohias) ~ Sterna hybrida 2) 64 147

(Chli^donias)- Sterna leuaoptera 2) 64 146

( Chli,j3jonias ) = Sterna nigra 2) 64 146

- 6 -

Chlorociohla (-Pyrrlmms) flavicollis 8) 52 117 3) 24 4) 59 6) 19

simplex 1) 40 62 62 2) 62 4) 102 [

(Chlorophoneus) Malaconotus rmtticolor 3) 91 \

sulfureopectus 3) 91 . li

Chrysococcyx caprius 1} 39 SO 60 141 2) 17 52 116 150 3) 19 4) 99 ?

6} 27 69 6) 16 5 2

eupreus 1) SO 60 2) ISO 3) 19 ;i:

klaas 1) SO 60 2} 52 116 ISO 3} 19 6) 16 51 s

Ciecaba woodfordii 1) SO 60 5} 27 'i|

Cicconia abdimii 1) 17 23 49 95 2) 114 129 3) 18 103 4) 19 5) 21 66 6) 15 j

eioaonia 1) 17 23 43 45 94 2) 129 3) 10 12 40 4) 47 72 74 80 106 S) 64 6) 40 91 f

episGopuB 1) 23 2) 58 114 129 3) 104 4) 55 66 S) 24 56 66 !

nigra 2) 129 3) 12 104 4) 19 72 74 80 84 6) 24

Cinnyricinclus leuoogaster 1) 27 52 62 2) 19 52 118 3) 23 92 4) 60 67

101 5) 21 29 71 6) 20

(Cinnyris) - Nectarinia ohloropygia 3) 94

cocoinigaster 3) 94

cuprea 3) 93

Qohannae 3} 93 [

superba 3) 93 i'

venus ta 3) 94 i

Ciroaetus heaudouini 1) 20 2) 136 3) 65 105

oinerasceris 1) 23 2) 114 136 3) 14 105 S) 67 6) 15 !|

cinereus 1) 23 99 2) 136 6) 15 '

gallicus 1) 20 23 98 2) 69 136 3) 11 14 105 4) 66 74 80 84 89 S) 67 |l

Circus aeruginosus 1) 23 98 2) 61 59 13? 3) 14 105 4) 66 72 74 80 89 97

5} 25 67 6} 43 cyaneus 6) 43 I;

macrourus 1) 20 23 98 2) 69 137 3) 11 14 4) 66 74 80 89 5) 67 6j 43 70

pygargus 1) 20 23 2) 59 137 3) 11 14 4) 72 74 80 84 89 6) 43 \

Cisticola aberrans 1) 19 27 40 2) 11? 4) 60 5) 29 70 93 6) 19

anonyma 1) 53 63 I,

aridula 2) 46 3) 26 85 6} 62 |i

brachyptera 1) 40 63 2) 19 24 53 117 3) 86 19

oantans 2) S3 117 3) 25 86 4) 102 5) 70 'I-

erythrops 1) 2? 40. 63 63 2) 19 24 53 3) 25 86 5) 29 6) 19 '

eximia 2) 117 3} 85

galactotes 1) 40 2) 53 54 118 3) 69 86 4) 102 107 5) 29 6) 19

hunteri 4)2 ;

juncidis 1) 27 40 2) 63 54 68 3) 26 69 85 4) 102 5) 29 6) 62 I

lateralis 1) 40 63 3) 85 5) 29

natalensis 1) 27 2) 117 3) 26 86 6) 19 i

rufa 3) 26 86 :

ruficeps 2) 44 117 -

troglodytes 3) 86 \

Clmnator glandarius 1) 60 2) 30 52 149 3) 19 5) 27 6) 51 ;

jacobinus 1) 25 50 2) 30 65 149 3) 19 66 4) 99 6) 16 51 69 s

levaillantii 1) 25 60 2) 1? 21 62 116 149 3) 19 4) 67 S) 69 6) 16 69 94 95 ;

Clytospiza dybowskii 4) 68 j

Cooc^lius iris 3) 93

Coliidae 5) 47 48

Colius macrourus 2) 32 66 156 3) 11 20 5) 27 6) 53 'i

Coliuspasser axillaris 3) 96 ;

(Coliuspasserl-Euplectes macrourus 3) 96 ''

- 7 "

Columha guinea 1) 25 146 2) 66 148 3) 18 66 106 4) 22 57 5} 68 0) 50

livia 2) 29 148 3) 63 5) 90 albinucha 6) 6

malherbi 1) 60

patumbus 3} 62 66 70

Columbidae 5) 47 48

Comatibis eremita 2) 130

Coraoias 5) 44

Coracias abyssinica 1) 26 61 147 2) 18 23 33 66 116 161 3) 21 4) 67

loo 6) 28 34-36 44 69 6) 18 54

ayanogaster 1) 26 2) 18 116 151 4) 68 67 5) 28 69 93 6) 18

garrulus 1) 26 48 61 2) 151 5) 34-36 6) 54 71

naevia 1) 61 2) 18 66 119 151 3) 21 5) 69 6) 71

Coraoidae 5) 47 48

Covacina azurea 1) 62

pectoralis 2) 117 3) 89 4) 69 67 107 5) 29 71

Corvidae 6} 48

Corvinella oorvina 1) 27 147 2) 19 21 22 38 52 119 3) 23 68 90 6) 71 6) 14

Corpus albus 1) 20 27 38 40 52 62 2) 19 39 52 68 119 149 3) 23 54 92

4) 23 67 101 5) 29 31 50 71 6) 58

( -Rhinocorax) rhipidurus 3) 64

rufioollis 2) 40 149 3) 92 4) 91 6) 58

Corytheola cristata 1) 50 2} 115 4) 57 66

(Corythomis)- Aloédo cristata 1) 50 2) 115 6) 53

leuGogaster 2) 152

Cossypha albioapilla 1) 27 2) 117 3) 81 4) 102 6) 19 71 bocagei 6) 5

cyanoaampter 3)81

niviecapilla 1)27 63 2) 52 54 117 3)24 81 4)67 102 5)29 70

Cotumix ootumix 1) 102 2) 139 3) 11 15 4) 72 74 81 89 ^)

delegorguei 2) 139 3)16

sp. 1)24

(Crecopsis) ~ Crex egregia 2) 139

Crex orex 1)102 2)140 4)97

(Crecopsis) egregia 1)59 2) 17 51 115 3) 16 106 6) 70

Crinifer pisoator 1) 25 39 60 2) 17 52 65 119 151 3)19 66 4) 99 5) 68 6) 51

zonurus 4) 22 6) 27

Criniger barbatus 1)52

caluvus 1)52 62 3) 77

olivaoeus 3)77

(Crooethia) - Calidris alba 2)143

Cuoulidae 5) 47

Cuoulus (oafêr) ~ clamosus 2)149

oanorus 1)26 48 60 2) 17 30 149 5) 27 69 6) 51

clamosus 1)60 60 3) 19

gularis 2)116 4) 57 5)69 6) 16

solitarius 2) 149 4) 57 107 6) 16

(Cuncuma) - Haliaetus voeifer 2)136

Cursorius (= Rhinoptilus) chalcopterus 1) 24 3) 17 106 6) 68

cursor 1)108 2)144 4)81 86 91 6) 48

terminckii 1)20 24 2) 17 115 144 3) 17 66 6)68 6) 48 70

(Cynamitra) = Nectarinia olivacea 3) 94

verticalis 3)94

Cypsiurus parvus 1) 26 51 60 2) 52 65 119 158 4)66 100 107 5) 27 69 6) 53

- d ~

Delichon urhioa 1) 26 61 2) 18 23 37 11? 3) 22 89 4) 75 82

89 101 5) 21 28 - 6) 57

Dendroaygna biaolor 2) 59 132 3) 13 4) 105 5) 25

viduata 1) 23 37 96 2) 119 132 3) 13 104 5) 25 64 66 6) 15 41

Dendropioos elachus 2) 35 157 6) 55

fusoe^aaena 1) 26 2) 18 24 157 4) 58 107 5) 28

gabonensis 1) 51 61 4) 58 107 5) 28

( Dendropiaos ) = Mesoaioos goertae 2) 119

Dendropiaos C-lpophilus) obsoletus 3) 21 4) 67 5) 28 69

Dicruridae 5) 48

Dtamrus adsimitis 1) 27 52 62 2)19 39 67 119 3) 23 68 89

4) 6? 5) 29 71 6) 57

atripennis 1) 48

ludwigii 1) 52 62 3) 89

Dryosoopua gambensis 1) 26 62 2) 19 24 67 11? 3) 22 91 4) 67

101 5) 28 71

sabini 1) 52 62 3) 50

senegalensis 5) 28

Egretta alba 1) 23 31 49 94 2) 5? 119 3) 12 104 4) 65 72 74 80

85 89-91 96 5) 66 6) 39

( =Metanophoyx ) ardeaiaaa 1) 37 3) 12 104 4) 6 96

garzetta 1) 49 94 2) 58 72 128 3) 12 104 4) 55 72 74 80

89-91 96 5) 66 6) 15 39 70 85

gularis 1) 37 2) 51 54 58 129 6) 39

intermedia 1) 23 2) 16 128 3) 12 104 4) 96 5) 66 6) 39

Elanus aaeruleua 1) 24 50 59 2) 17 51 60 115 134 3) 15 105

4)97 5) 67

Elœius (^helictinia) riooourii 1) 24 100 2) 60 134 3) 15 5) 67

(Elminia) - Troohooeraus longiaauda 3) 78

Emberiza aabanisi 2) 20 23 24 118 3) 2? 99 5) 30

oalandra 4) 83

flaviventris 1) 28 2) 46 3) 27 99 4) 46 5) 71

forbesi 3} 27 100 5} 30 71 pusilla 6) 54

J2ortulana 3) 100 6) 64 striolata 6) 64 àj 20 64

(=Fringillaria) tahapisi 1) 28 2) 46 118 3) 27 5) 30 71 I

Ember izidae 5) 48 ^

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis 1) 19 23 94 2) 58 114 130 3} 103

104 4) 19 55 5) 24 66

(Eranomis) ~ Trochocercus longiaauda 4) 60

(Eremialeator) = Pterooles eoronatus 2) 147 Eremalauda dunni 6) 56

liohensteinii 2) 147

quadviainatus 2) 147

Eremomela alexanderi 3) 85

badiacps 1) 63 griseoflava 6) 61

icteropygialis 3) 26 5) 70

pusilla 1) 27 40 2} 19 21 24 119 3) 26 85 4) 67 5) 29 70 6) 62

Eremompteryx leuootis 1) 26 2) 36 67 3) 21 4} 38 5) 69 6) 56

nigriceps 2) 36 67 3) 74 6) 57 Eremophila bilopha 6 ) 56

Erythrocerous moaallii 1) 53 63 3) 78 Erithacus rubecula 6) 34 60

Estrilda astrild 4) 103 5) 30

Estrilda (= raeginthus) bengala 1) 28 2) 48 69 3) 28 5)

caerulescens 1) 28 2) 119 3) 28 98 4) 103 5) 56 72

- 9 -

Estrilda

larvata 1} 28 2) 20 24 119 3) 28 4) 48 6) 30 72

melpoda 1) 28 41 64 64 2) 20 24 53 3) 98 4) 103 6) 30 72 6) 66

nonnula 4) 2 6) 30

troglodytes 1) 28 2) 53 54 69 119 3) 28 70 98 4) 103 5) 30 72 6) 66

Estritdidae 5) 48

Eudi‘omias morinellus 3) 66 70

(Euodioe } - Lonahura malabariaa 3) 97

Eupleotes 4) 37

Eupleotes afer 1) 28 41 2) 119 3) 27 69 96 5) 30 6) 66

ardens 4) 103 5) 30 71

oapensis 4) 3

franaisamtus 2) 119

hordaoea 1) 28 41 2) 53 119 3) 27 96 4) 103 5) 30

(-Coliuspasser) maarourus 1) 20 28 41 54 2) 20 23 53 119 3) 27

4) 68 103 5) 30

orix 1) 28 41 65 2) 21 53 3) 27 69 96 4) 33 68 5) 30 71 6) 66

progne 4) 37

Eupodotis grindiana 1) 74-78

(-Lissotis) melanogaster 1) 24 37 105 2) 17 115 3) 16 106 5) 21

26 65 67

ruficrista 1) 74-78 105 3) 16 5) 67

savilei 1) 74-78 141

senegalensis 1) 105 2) 60 141 3) 11 16 106

(Eurillas) - Andropadus virens 3) 77

Eurylaimi^e 5) 47

Eurystomus glauaurus 1) 26 48 61 2) 18 52 116 151 3) 21 4) 22

67 100 5) 28 69

gularis 1) 51 61 2) 151 4) 100

Exoalfaotoria adansoni 2) 139

Falco alopex 1) 101 2) 132 3) 15 105 4) 21 56 6) 16

amurensis 1) 71

ardosiaoeus 1) 24 37 59 2) 17 23 51 115 134 3) 15 105 4) 21

97 5) 25 67 6) 16 44

hiarmious 1) 24 101 2) 17 133 3) 15 53 105 4) 80 91 5) 67 6) 43

oherrug 2) 133 4) 81

chiquera 1) 20 24 2) 60 115 133 3) 15 105 4) 97 5) 25 67 6) 44 70

concolor 1) 101 133 5) 90

Guvieri 1) 20 24 59 2) 133 3) 15 105 4) 97

eleonorae 5) 90

naumanni 1) 24 59 101 2) 60 133 3) 15 5) 67 6) 44

pelegrinoides 5) 90 6) 43

peregrinus 1) 24 59 101 2) 115 133 3) 15 53 105 4) 6 74

81 80 91 5) 47 90 6) 16 43 74

rufuscens 2) 134

subbuteo 1) 101 2) 51 115 133 3) 105 5) 90

tinnunculus 1) 24 50 59 101 2) 60 133 3) 15 54 105 4) 6

74 78 81 89 90 5) 67 6) 44

vespertinus 1) 71 3) 15 105 4) 81

- 10 -

Falconidae S) 4? 48

Ficedula albicollis 2) 45 3} 26

hypoleuca 1) 27 44 63 2) 45 71

Franeolinus ahantensis 2) 139

albogularis 1} 146 2) 139

bioalcaratuB 1) 24 37 59 146

4) 66 9? 5} 67 6) 16 44

clappertoni 1) 102 2) 139

coqui 2) 139 3) 15 ’

icterorhynchus 5) 26

schlegelii 5) 25

squamatus 2) 17 4) 21 46

Fraseria cinevascens 4) 67

ocTeata 1) 53

3) 26 39 4) 83 6) 62 74 90

3) 16 105 4) 56

2) 17 51 60 119 139 3) 16 105

camerunensis 6)5

3) 15

Fregata magnificens 6) 81

Fringillaria striolata 3) 100

(Fringillaria) - Emberiza tahapisi 3) 100

Fringillidae 6) 48

Fulica atra 2) 140 3) 16 4) 81 6) 45

(Galachrysia) = Glareola oinerea 2) 145

nuchalis 2) 145

Galerida cristata 2) 36 67 3) 21 74 4) 38 91 5) 69 6) 56

(-Heliocorys) modesta 3) 21 4) 101

Gallinago (-Capella) galtinago 1) 43 45 50 69 10? 2) 52 62

3) 17 40 66 70 106 4) 72 74 81 89 105 6) 26 68 6) 46 70

media 2) 52 3) 17 106 4) 81

(-Lymnocpyptes) minima 1) 43 69 3) 17 39 4) 81 105 6) 46

GalUnula angulata 1) 37 69 103 2) 140 3) 16 106 5) 67

ohlopopus 1) 37 50 59 69 103 2) 60 140 3) 16 4) ? 81 91

6) 26 64 6; 45

(Gelochelidon) ~ Sterna nilotica 2) 146

Geronticus eremita 4) 80

Glareola (-Galachrysia) cinerea 3) 18 5) 68

Glareola nordmanni 1) 108 2) 146 3) 18

Glareola (-Galachrysia) nuchalis 2) 115 4) 57 66 5) 68 6) 16

Glareola pratinoola 1) 24 39 108 2) 62 54 63 145 3) 17 4) 81

98 5) 64 6) 48 ;

Glareolidae 5) 47 ' tephronotum 6) 67 |i

Glaucidium perlatum 1) 25 2) 18 116 155 3) 19 4) 57 5) 27 68 6 ) 17 67-69'\

Guttera edouardi 1) 50 2) 139 5) 25 6) 71 plumifera 6) 70 71 ;;

Gymnobucco calvus 1) 51 61 6) 18 [

pelt 1) 61 Gorsachias leuconotus 6) 85 89

Gypohierax 5) 47

Gypohierax angolensis 1) 23 49 2) 59 114 136 3) 105 4) 66 96 107 :

5) 25

Gyps (-Pseudogyps) bengalensis (-atricanus) 5) 66

Gyps bengalensis 1) 23 97 2) 59 3) 14 105 4) 20 66 5) 25

ruppellii 1) 20 23 97 2) 59 102-104 133 3) 55 105 . 5) 25 66 6) 41

fulvus 4) 74 80 89 6) 41

“ 11

Haematopus ostralegus 2) 61 142 4) 72 76 81 89

(Hagedashia) ~ Bostrychia hagedash 4) 20

Halcyon badia 1) 51

ohelicuti 1) 25 2) 152 3) 20 4) 67 5) 27 69 6) 54

leuoocephala 1) 26 51 60 2) 18 23 33 66 116 152 3) 20 68

4) 58 67 100 5) 27 69 6) 54

malimbioa 1) 25 51 60 2) 18 162 4) 67 100 5) 27 69 93 6) 18 70

senegalensis 1) 25 39 51 60 2) 18 52 66 116 152 3) 20 4) 100

6) 69 91-93 6) 18 53

senegaloides 5) 91-93

smymensis 3} 36

Haliaeetus (-Cuncuma) vooifer 1) 20 24 2) 59 3) 11 105 4) 20

66 97 5) 25 67 6) 16 42

(Hedydipna) = Anthreptes platura 3) 93

(Heliocorys) ~ Galerida modesta 3) 74

(Heliolais) - Pvinia erythropteva 2) 118 3) 87

Hieraaetus afrïoanus 1) 50 3) 49

dubius 1) 59 99 2) 135 4) 97

fasciatus 4) 66 6) 42

otivetonm 3) 25

pallida 1) 27 44 2) 43 71 3) 25 39 83 4) 83 92 106 5) 70 78 6) 60 90

polyglotte 1) 44 48 63 2) 52 71 3) 25 39 83 4) 67 106 6) 60 90

sp. 2) 68

Hirundinidae 5) 47

Hirundo abyssinica 1) 26 2) 52 117 3) 22 88 4) 101 5) 28 6) 19

aethiopioa 1) 61 2) 18 23 36 3) 22 87 4) 59 5) 28 70

dauvica 1) 20 2) 37 119 3) 22 88 6) 57 71 72 74

griseopyga 1) 26 3) 22 88 5) 21 28 6) 71

fuUgula 3) 22 4) 59 6) 19

leuoosoma 3) 30 87 6} 70

lucida 2) 117 3) 87 4) 59 6) 18

nigrita 1) 51 4) 67

(-Ptyonoprogne) obsolete 4) 73 75 82 89-91

(-Petrochelidon) preussi 2) 117 4) 59 63 6) 19

(-Ptyonoprogne) rupestris 2) 67 4) 82

rustica 1) 26 45 51 61 2) 18 23 33 36 52 67 72 119 3) 53 87

4) 67 73 75 82 89 101 106 107 5) 21 28 70 78 74

semirufa 1) 39 51 61 2) 18 21 52 3) 22 88

senegalensis 1) 26 2) 67 117 3) 22 88 4) 59 5) 28 70

smithii 1) 26 2) 116 3) 30 87 4) 58 67 101 5) 28 70

spilodera 3) 22 4) 63 5) 70

(Hoplopter>us) - Vanellus spinosus 2) 142

(Hydroprogne) ~ Sterna (oaspia) - tschegrava 2) 64

Hylia prasina 1) 53 63 3) 94

Hyliota flavigaster 3) 30 78 5) 29

Hypergerus atrieeps 3) 85 4) 102 5) 29 70

( Hyphen turgus) = Ploceus nigricollis 3) 95

(Hypoehera) = Vidua chalyheata 3) 99 6) 66 Hydrobates castro 6) 80

(Hypochera) = Vidua lorenzi 1) 68 leucorhoa 6) 80

(Hypoehera) = Vzdua sp. 2) 119 pelagicus 6) 80

~ 12 ~

Ibis ibis 1} 23 96 2) 17 130 138 3) 8 13 104 4) 96 6) 24 66 6) 40

Indiaator exilis 3) 50

indicator 1) 26 2) 157 3) 21 5) 28 69 18

maoulatus 2) 157

minor 1) 48 61 2) 18 157 3) 21 5) 69

willoocksi 1) 48

Indioatoridae 5) 47

(Ipophilus) ~ Dendropioos obsoletus 2) 157

(Ispidina) " Ceyx piota 2) 116 152

Ixobryahus minutus 1) 17 22 36 93 2) 51 129 3) 12 104 4) 80 105

5) 24 64 66 78 6) 39

Ixobryahus (-Ardeirallus) sturmii 1) 22 36 48 93 2) 51 3) 12 104

4) 96 5) 66

Ixonotus guttatus 1) 52 6) 71

Jynx torquilla 1) 43 51 61 2) 71 158 3) 21 39 4) 82 105 5) 69 0) 55 90

Kaupifalco monogrammioa 1) 23 49 2) 17 119 135 3) 14 105 4) 66 97

5) 25 67

Lagonosticta 4) 50

Lagonosticta larvata 2) 118 3) 98 4) 10 5) 30

jamesoni 3) 98

nitidula 4) 10

rara 2) 118 3) 30 4) 60 6) 20

rhodopareia 4) 9 10 13 14

rubrioata 1) 28 41 2) 53 118 3) 29 98 4) 9 10 12-14 68

rufopiata 1) 64 68 2) 20 53 119 3) 28 98 4) 10 5) 30 6) 71

senegala 1) 28 2) 20 48 53 69 119 3) 28 98 4) 10 68 103 5) 30 72 6) 66 71 73

(Lamprocolius) ™ Lamprotomis eaudatus 3) 93

chalybaeus 2) 149 3) 92

ehalourus 3) 92

chalourus 3) 92

purpuï>eus 3) 92

splendidus 3) 92

Lamprotomis (-Lamprocolius) eaudatus 1) 27 2) 39 68 119 3) 23 68

5) 71 6) 64

chalcurus 3) 30

chalybaeus 2) 39 68 3) 23 4) 101 5) 71 6) 2-4 64

chloropterus 3) 23

purpureus 1) 27 39 2) 19 24 52 119 3) 23 5) 29 71

Lamprotomis purpuriceps 1) 52

Lamprotomis (=Lamproaolius) splendidus 1) 52 62

Laniarius aethiopicus (=f errugineus) 4) 59

barbarus 1) 27 2) 52 54 67 119 3) 22 68 90 4) 23 5) 29 71 6) 63

ferrugineus 2) 19 24 52 5) 29 6) 74

luhderi 1) 52

turatii 4) 67

Laniidae 5) 47

~ 13 -

Lanius oollaris 1) 52 2) 19 52 3) 90 4) 101 5) 71

collurio 1) 43 2) 19 21 24 38 3) 23 90 4) 82 6) 63 90

exoubitor 2) 38 3} 30 90 4) 82 86 91 6) 63

exoubitorius 3) 90

gubemator 3) 90

isabellinus 3) 23 90

nubiens 2) 38 4) 82

senator 1) 27 52 2) 38 52 67 3) 11 23 90 4) 75-78 82 84 89 5) 29 6) 63

Larus argentatus 2) 64 145 4) 81 99 6) 48 82 audouinii 6) 34 49 82

oirrhocephalus 2) 63 145 3) 18 54 4) 50 99 5) 31 68 6) 49 82

fusons 2) 52 64 145 3) 18 4) 72 75 81 89 99 6) 48 82

genei 2) 63 145 4) 81 6) 49 82

melanooephalus 4) 81 6) 82 minutus 6) 49 82

ridibundus 2) 63 146 3) 18 54 4) 46 72 75 81 89 6) 82

sabini 4) 99 6) 82

tridactylus 4) 81 6) 82

Leptoptilos arumeniferus 1) 23 95 2) 130 3) 13 104 4) 20 5) 24 66 40 70

Limioola fatcinellus 1) 107 2) 143 4) 81

Lirmocorax flavirostris 1) 37 59 2) 17 21 23 51 119 139 3) 16 106

5) 25 6?

Limnodromus gris eus 1) 69

Limosa lapponica 1) 96 2) 51 61 4) 72 74 81 89 98 47

limoea 1) 68 106 2) 51 61 3) 17 4) 72 74 81 98 105 47

scolopaoeus 1) 69 Lioptilus gilberti 6) 5

(Lissotis) = Eupodotis melanogaster 2) 141

Locustetla luscinioides 3) 24 39 83 4) 48 83 105 5) 78 60

naevia 3) 83 4) 92 6) 60

Lonchura bioolor ~ (poensis) 1) 41 54 64 6) 20

ciicullata 1) 28 41 54 64 \141 2) 20 24 43 69 119 3) 29 96 4) 3 48

68 103 5) 30 50 6) 20 ^

Lonchura (-Amauresthes) frirwjilloides 1) 41 2) 53 3) 97

(=Euodiae) malabarica 1) 28 2) 48 69 118 3) 29 5) 72 6) 66 73

(poensis) ~ bioolor 3} 97

Lophaetus occipitalis 1) 23 50 59 2) 79 114 135 3) 15 105 4) 66 5) 25 0) 16

Lullula arborea 4) 10 Lophotis ruficrista 6 ) 44

Luscinia luscinia 3) 24

megarhynchos 1) 44 52 63 2) 42 52 71 3) 24 39 77 82 4) 10 73 75

83 84 89 105 5) 70 78 6) 19 60 90

svecioa 1) 27 2) 42 3) 24 4) 83 105 5) 78 6) 60

Lybius bidentatus 1} 39 2) 52 156\ 4) 67 5) 28 6) 71

dubius 1) 20 26 2) 18 21 22 66 119 156 3) 21 5) 28 69 71

(-Tricholaema) hirsutus 1) 51 61

leucooephalus 3) 21 5) 28

rolleti 4) 22

vieilloti 1) 26 39 2} 18 34 52 66 116 156 3) 21 5) 28 69 6) 55

(Lymnocryptes) - Gallinago minima 2) 143

Machaeramphus alcinus 1} 50 2) 17 114 3) 15 105

Macrodipteryx longipennis 1) 25 39 50 60 2) 18 32 156 3) 20 67

4) 66 100 5) 21 57 69 6) 17 53

vexillarius 5) 7 13 21 69

Maoronyx oroceus 1) 39 62 2) 19 52 117 3) 22 76 4) 67 101 5) 28 70 6) 19 71

^ 24 -

Macro sphenus conoolor 1) 53 4) 202

flavioans 1) 63

(Malacooincla) - Triohastoma cleaveri 4) 67

Mataoonotus hlanchoti 1) 27 2) 19 52 63 119

cruentus 1) 62

multicolor 1) 62 5) 29

poliocephalus 3) 91

sulfureopectus 1) 17 27

Malimbus ballmanni 3) 55

gladiator 6)5

kupeensis 6)5

2) 19 52 53 3) 22

3) 22 103 5) 29 71 6) 71

4) 67 5) 29 71 71

aassini 1) 2-12

corona tus 1) 2~12 3) 50

erythrogaster 1) 3-7 54

golensis 1) 4-12 3) 55

ibadanensis 1) 3-7 64

malimbicus 1) 2-11 54 64 3) 50 95

nitens 1) 2-11 53 64 3) 50 96

racheliae 1) 2-12 53

rubriceps 1) 2 12 2) 118 3) 27

rubricolUs 1) 2-9 54 64 3) 50 96 6) 20

scutatus 1) 2-12 53 64

Megabyas flarmulata 1) 53 3) 78

(Megaceryle) = Ceryle maxima 2) 152 5) 69

Melaenomis edolioides 1) 27 2) 118 3) 2ë 78 4) 67 102 5) 29 70 6) 19

Melanitta nigra 4) 80

(Melanophoyx) - Egretta ardesiaca 2) 128

Melierax (=Micronisus) gabar 1) 23 99 3) 14 105 5) 67 6) 70

Melierax rnetabates 1) 23 99 2) 137 3) 14 105 5) 25 67 6) 43 87

(Melocichla) = Sphenoeacus mentalis 3) 87

(Mellitophagus) - Merops bulocki 2) 153

gularis 2) 153

muelleri 2) 153

pusillus 2) 153

Meropidae 5) 47 48

Merops (-Aerops) albicollis 1) 26 51 60 2) 18 23 33 52 116 153

3) 20 4) 58 67 100 5) 4 69 6) 18 54

Merops apiaster 2) 33 66 73 152 3) 20 34 35 37 38 6) 54

Merops breweri 3) 51 4) 43-44 5) 55 6) 70 71

bullockoides 2) 73

(-Mellitophagus) bulocki 1) 26 2) 73-75 119 3) 21 36 38 5) 27 69 6) 23

(=Mellttophagus) gularis 1) 48 6) 95-96 24 54

hirundineus 2) 66 3) 21 4) 58 5) 27

leschanaultii 3) 35

malimbicus 1) 51 2) 52

Merops (= Mellitophagus) muelleri 1) 51

Merops nubicus 1) 26 2) 18 33 66 73 76 116 153 3) 20 4) 58 5) 27

64 69 6) 18 23-30 54

orientalisl) 26 2) 33 66 153 3) 11 20 35 37 38 5) 69 6) 54

persicus 3) 31 34 35 37 38 52

philippinus 3) 31

(=Mcllitophagus) pusillus 1) 26 2) 66 74 3) 20 4) 58 67 100

5) 27 69 6) 18 23-30 54

superciliosus 2) 66 76 153 3) 20 31-38 4) 100 6) 54

variegatus 3) 36 38 6) 95-96

viridis 3) 35

~ 15 ~

Mesopicos (-Dendvopicos) goertae 1) 26 2) 18 21 2d 24 36 67

158 169 3) 21 4) 67 101 6) 28 69 55

pyrrhogaster 1) 51 61 2) 158

(Mioronisus) - Melierax gabar 2) 114 137

Mioroparra oapensis 2) 141 3) 16 5) 26 67

Milvua fasaiioauda 4) 6

migrans 1) 24 37 60 59 100 2) 17 23 51 60 119 134 3) 15 105

4) 6 7 20 49 66 73 74 76 80 89 90 97 106 5) 21 25 67 6) 28 43

Mira fra a f ricana 3) 73 4) 101

oantillane 3) 73 6) 57

oinnamomea 3). 73

oordofaniea 3) 73 6) 34 57

javanioa 1) 26 3) 21 57-58

nigricans 1) 20 26 2) 18 3) 21

rufa 3) 73

rufo oinnamomea 1) 26 2) 119 3) 21 5) 28 69

Montioola saxatilis 2) 41 3) 24 79 4) 82 5) 1-3 58

solitaria 2) 41 68 70 3) 79 4) 73 75 82 89 5) 1-3 23 0) 58

Mo^tacilla aguimp 1) 147 2) 19 67 117 4) 69 67 101 6) 70 5) 19

alba 1) 26 61 2) 37 67 3) 22 75 4) 73 75 76 82 89 101

5) 28 70 6) 62

cinerea 3) 68 70 75 4) 73 75 79 82 89 6) 62

olara 3) 75

flava 1) 26 43 45 46 62 61 2) 21 37 52 67 71 3) 22 39 53 76

4) 67 73 75 82 89 101 105 5) 21 28 70 78 6) 62 71 72 90

Motacillidae 5) 47 90

Musoioapa (-Alseonax) aquatica 1) 27 2) 119 3) 26 5) 29 70

(Muscicapa) - Fioedula albicollis 3) 78

Musoioapa caerulesoens 1) 27

oassini 1) 53 63 4) 67

comitata 1) 53

gambagae 3) 77

(Musoioapa)- Fioedula hypoleuca 3) 77

Muscicapa striata 1) 44 53 63 2) 20 23 45 3) 77 6) 62

Musoicapidae 5) 48

Musophaga violaoea 1) 25 2) 119 150 3) 19 5) 27 68

Musophagidae 5) 47

Myioparus plimbeus 1) 63 3) 78 5) 70

Myrmecooiohla aethiops 2) 41 3) 24 81 5) 70 6) 59

(-Pentholea) albifrons 1} 52 3) 24 6) 70

(-Thamnolaea) oinnamomeiventris 1) 19 27 2) 99-101 3) 24 68 70

4) 60 6) 19

(Thaimolaea) coronata 6) 22 29

nigra 6) 29

(Neafrapus) = Chaetura oassini 3) 50

(Necrosyrtes) - Neophron rnonaohus 2) 119 133 5) 66

Neotarinia adelberti 2) 53 64 6) 19

batesi 1) 48 3) 50

16

(-Cinnyris) chlovpygia 1) S3 64 2) 53 118 4) 103

5) 30 51 53

i-Cinnyris ) coeoinigaster 1) 40 64 2) 20 24 S3 68 119

Neatarinia (-Cinnyris) cuprea 1) 38 40 64 2) 20 24 S3 68

118 3J 2? 5} 71

cyanolaema 1) S3 64

(-Cinnyris) johannae 3) 93

minulus 1) 48

( -Cyanomitra) olivacea 1) 53 63

preussi 4) 2

pulehella 1) 28 2) 45 68 ISO 3) 27 93 4) 60 103 5) 30 71 ^^11

seimundi 1) 53 3) SO platura 6) 64

(=Chalcomitra) senegalensis 1} 28 64 2) 119 3) 27 S) 30 7l6)^

(-Cinnyris) superba 1) 17 28 S3 64

( -Cinnyris ) venusta 2) S3 3J 27 4) 103 5) 30 ursulae 6) 6

i-Cyanomitra) verticalis 1) 53 64 2) 20 53 5} 30

Neoeossyphus poensis 1) 62

Neophron ( -Neerosyrtes ) monaohus 1) 23 37 49 98 2) 17 59

3) 11 14 105 4) 66 96 5) 26 6} 41

peronoptevus 1) 98 2) 133 3) 14 4) 20 74 80 89 41

Neotis denhami 1) 19 24 104 2) 141 3) 16 106 4) 21 66

5) 21 26 67

nuba 1) 104 2) 141 6) 34 44

Nettapus auritue 1) 23 2) 114 132 3) 8 13 104 4) 55

5) 25 66 6) 15

Nieator chloris 1) 62 62 3) 91 4) 67

Nigrita bicolor 1) 54 64 3) 97

oanioapilla 1) 54 64 2) 53 3) 97

fusoonota 1) 54 64 3) 97

luteifrons 1) 64

Nilaus afer 2) 19 24 3) 22 90 5) 71 63

Numenius arquata 1) 59 106 2) 51 61 144 4) 81 91 5) 26 6) 47

. phaeopus 1) 59 2) 51 61 144 4) 81 98 6) 47

Numida meleagris 1) 24 32-35 102 2) 60 115 139 3) 11 16 105

4) 21 66 97 5) 25 37-43 67 44

Nyctieorax leuconotus 2) 129

nycticorax 1) 22 93 2) 57 129 3) 12 104 4) 55 80 91 96

6) 66 6) 39 85 86 88

Nyctiperdix 6) 76

Oceanites marinus 6 ) 80

océaniens 6 ) 80

Oena capensis 1) 25 2) 30 65 115 148 3) 18 5) 26 68 6)8-10 51 70 72

Oenanthe hottae 1) 27 2) 19 41 3) 24 4) 59 5) 29

deserti 2) 40 3) 79 4} 7 5-78.82 84^^89 91 104 6) 59

heuglini 3) 80

hispanica 2) 40 3) 24 80 4) 76-78 82 84 89 104 5) 79 6) 59

isabellina 2) 40 3) 79 4) 76 82 85 89 5) 44 6) 59

leucopyga 2) 40 3) 53 80 6) 59

oenanthe 1) 27 43 2) 40 68 71 3) 24 79 4) 75-78 82 84

87 89 102 104 105 6) 29 49 79 6) 59

spp. 5) 44 90

Onychognathus fulgidus 1) 52 62 4) 67

morio 3) 23 68 70 93 5) 48

Oriolioae 5) 48

17

Oriolus auratus 1) 27 62 2) 19 3) 23 92 4) 67 5) 21

29 71

brachyrhynohus 1) 52 62

larvatus 2) 119

nigripennis 1) 62

oriolus 1) 62 2) 38 3) 92 5) 21 29 71 e) 57

sp. 4) 101

Ortygospiza atricollis 1) 28 2) 55 118 3) 11 29 70 97

4) 103 6) 66

Ortyxelos meiffrenii 1) 25 2) 29 147 3) 18 5) 68

Ostralaegus haematopus 2) 61 142

Otididae 5) 47

Otis (^Ardeotis) arabs 1) 104 2) 60 3) 53 106 4) 21 5) 67

Otus leuQOtis 1) 25 60 2) 31 155 3) 1953 66 4) 68 5) 27 68

saops 1) 25 43 48 60 2) 18 31 65 71 155 3) 19 4) 82

5) 27 68 6) 52

icterorhyncha 6) 61 Ce) 17 52 70

>

Pachy coccyx 5) 47

Pandion haliaetus 1) 24 29 44 59 100 2) 60 79 115 137 3) 15

40 105 4) 56 80 91 97 106 6) 43 91

Paridae 5) 48

Parmoptila rubrifrons 3) 97

woodhousei 1) 54

Parus leucomelas 1) 28 2) 20 21 24 3) 26 40 91 5) 30 71

Passer domes ticus 4) 37

griseus 1) 28 41 53 64 2) 20 47 53 69 119 3) 28 95 4) 103

5) 30 71 6) 65

iagoensis 3) 94

(^Auripasser) luteus 2) 47 79 3) 28 4) 27-32 33 5) 71 6) 6573

simplex 2) 47 3) 94 4) 91 6) 65

Pelecanus onocrotalus 1) 147 2) 57 128 3) 11 5) 23 6) 38 80

rufuscens 1) 19 22 110-112 2) 57 128 3) 12 104 4) 42 94

5) 23 66 6) 81

( Pentholea) - Myrmecocichla albifrons 3) 80

Pernis apivorus 1) 24 50 2) 60 70 135 3) 15 54 66 70 4) 80 ^2

(Petrochelidon) = Hirundo preussi 3) 88

Petronia dentata 1) 28 2) 20 118 3) 28 95 5) 71

xanthocollis 3) 95 6) 65 xanthosterna 6) 65

Phalacrocorax afrioanus 1) 24 49 2) 57 114 128 3) 12 104

4) 65 94 5) 24 66 6) 15 38 81 Phaeton aethereus 6) 80

carbo 2) 57 3) 8 12 4) 94 6) 38 81 lucidus 6) 38

Phalaropus fulicarius 4) 81 6) 81 lobatus 6) 81

Phasianidae 5) 47 48

Phasidus niger 1) 48

Philomachus pugnax 1) 24 43 45 107 118-125 2) 52 63 71 143

3) 17 39 106 4) 72 75 81 89 98 5) 26 73-77 90 6) 47

Phoenicopterus ruber 2) 58 4) 80 96 6) 40 minor 6) 40

Phoeniculidae 5) 47 48

- 18 -

Phoenioulus (- Sooptelus) aterrimus 1) 26 2) 34 3) 21 5) 28 69 6) 55 91-92

bollei 1) 61 2) 154 e) 7

oastaneioeps 1) 61 cyanomelas 6) 91

purpureus 1) 26 61 2) 18 34 52 119 154 3) 21 4} 67

5) 21 28 69 6) 55

Phoenicurus oohruros 3) 82 4) 75 79 83 89 6) 59

phoeniourus 1) 27 43 2) 41 68 71 72 3) 24 39 77 82 4) 73 75

83 84 89 105 5) 70 78 6) 59

Pholidornis 5) 48

Pholidornis rushiae 1) 53 63

Phyllanthus atripennis 3) 76 4) 67

Phyllastvephus alhigularie 1) 48 62

baumanni 1) 48

ictevinus 1) 52

(-Pyrrhurus) soandens 1) 62 2) 19 6) 71

Phyttosaopus bonelli 1) 44 2) 44 71 3) 25 39 84 4) 73 75-78

83 84 89 6; 61

aollybita 1) 27 2) 44 71 3) 25 84 4) 75-79 83 89 90 5) 70 6) 61

sibilatrix 1) 44 63 2) 19 24 44 71 3) 25 39 84 4) 83 5) 70 786)61

troahilus 1) 27 44 52 63 2) 19 23 24 44 52 71 3) 25 39 84

4) 83 90 102 106 5) 78 6) 61 90

Pica pica 5) 56

Picathavtes ^gymnocephalus 4) 101 5) 56 areas 6)5

Piaathartinae 5) 48

Picidae 5) 47

( Pinarocory s erythropygia) - Mirafra nigricans 3) 73

Pirenestes ostrinus 1) 54 2) 20 4) 47

sanguineus 3) 97

Pittidae 5) 47

Platalea alba 1) 96 2) 58 130 3) 8 13 104 4) 96

leucorodia 1) 96 2) 58 130 4) 72 74 80 6) 40

Platysteira blissetti 1) 63 4) 50

castanea 1) 53 63 3) 50

conoreta 1) 53 3) 50

cyanea 1) 28 40 53 2) 20 68 119 3) 78 4) 67 102 5) 30 70

tonsa 3) 50 laticincta 6) 5

Plectropterus gambensis 1) 23 29-30 96 2) 25-28 59 119 132 3) 13

104 4) 66 5) 25 66 6) 40

Plegadis falcinellus 1) 23 95 146 2) 58 130 3) 13 104 4) 46

72 74 80 89 91 96 5) 24

Ploceidae 5) 48

Plocepasser superciliosus 2) 20 118 3) 29 94 5) 30 71 6) 71

Ploceus 1) 2 12 2) 69 4) 37

Ploceus angolensis 3) 49

atrogularis 3) 95

baglafecht 1) 135 141 bannermani 6) 5

bate si 3) 4 9

capensis 1) 135 capitalis 6) 65

cucullatus 1) 28 53 64 127-133 2) 20 46 53 106-111 119 3) 27

Jl-48 95 4) 33 35 68 103 5) 30 71 79-89 6) 65

golensis 3) 55

heuglini 1) 135-143 2) 20-24 53 118 3) 27 5) 71 20

insignis 3) 49

intermedius 1 ) 135

(=Sitagra)luteolus 1) 28 2) 46 118 3) 27 5) 30 71 6) 20 65

melanocephalus 1) 28 3) 27 69 70 95 4) 68 5) 71

melanogaster 3) 50

nigerrimus 1) 53 64 4) 68

19

Ploceus

(IJyphanturqus) nigricotlis 1) 2 41 S3 2) S3 3) 9S 4) 68 6) 20

103 108 ' 6) 71 6) 20

ocularis 2) 20 4) 108

pelzelni 1) 40 2) S3

rubiginosus 4) 37

spekei 1) 135

superciliosus 1) 40 2} 20

taeniopterus 4) 33

tricolor 1) S3 64 3) 50

velatus 1) 28 2) 46 118 3) 27 6) 30 71 6) 20

vitellinus 3) 95 6) 65

Pluvialis apricaria 4) 81 6) 45

squatarola 1) 106 2) 51 61 4) 72 74 81 89 97 5) 93 6) 45

Pluvianus aegyptius 1) 24 108 146 2) 115 145 3) 17 106 4) 22 66

5) 26 68 6) 48

Podica senegalensis 1) 24 50 59 2) 115 140 3) 16 106 4) 46 56

66 5) 25 6) 16 70

Podiceps auritus 3) 54

cristatus 2) 127

nigricollis 3) 54 4) 107

( — Tacky hap tus ) rufico llis 1) 36 93 2) 67 70 127 3) 11

4) 80

Poeoptera lugubris 1) 62

Pogoniulus atroflavus 1) 51 2) 157

hilineatus 1) 51 61

chrysoconus 1) 26 2) 18 21-24 35 52 157 3) 21 4) 100 5) 28 69

pusil lus 2) 119

scolopaceus 1) 51 61

subsulphureus 1) 51 61 2) 157

Poicephalus meyeri 4) 22 5) 26

robustus 2) 151

senegalus 1) 25 2) 65 119 151 3) 19 4) 99 5) 68 6) 51

Polemaetus bellicosus 1) 23 99 2) 17 114 135 3) 15 105 4) 56

5) 25 67 6) 16 42

(Poliocephalus ) = Tachybaptus ruficollis 4) 19 Poliospiza leucopygia 6) 65

Polyboroides radiatus 1) 23 49 98 2) 59 137 3) 14 105 4) 66

5) 25 67 6; 70

typus 2) 114 4) 56

Porphyrio alba 2) 140

(^Porphyrula) alleni 2) 54 115 3) 16 106 4) 56 5) 67

porphyrio 1) 103 2) 60 3) 16

(Porphyrula) - Porphyrio alleni 1) 37 2) 51 140

Porzana parva 4) 81 107

porzana 1) 102 2) 139 3) 16 4) 81

pusilla 1) 102 4) 81

Prinia (=Spiloptila) damans 2) 45 3) 26 6) 62

i-Heliolais) erythroptera 1) 40 53 63 2) 19 24 53 54 3) 26

5) 29 6} 19 71

I eucop(jgo)i 1) 5 3

subflava 1) 27 40 48 63 2) 19 24 53 118 3) 26 87 4) 67 102

5) 70 6) 62 71

Prionops (=Sigmodus) caniceps 1) 52 62

plumata 1} 26 2) 19 119 3) 22 89 4) 67 5) 28 71

- 20

Prodotisous insignis 1) 51

Psalidoproone ohsoura 3) 22 4) 59 101 6)

nitens 4) 101

pristoptera 5) 21 28

(Pseudogyps africanus) ~ Gyps bengalensis

Psittacula krameri 1) 25 2) 52 53 65 119

Psittacus erithaaus 1) 50 60 2) 115 151

Pterooles (-Evemialeetor) ooronatus 1) 109

exustus 1) 109 2) 64 115 147 3) 18 5)

(-Eremialeotor) lichtensteinii 1) 109

(-Eremialeotor) quadrioinatus 1) 25 109

5) 21 26 68 6) 76 77

senegallua 2) 14? 4) 91 6) 25 50 75 76 77

Ptevoolididae 5) 47

Pteronetta havtlaubii 1) 49 2) 131 4) 66

Ptilopaahus petrosus 1) 24 2) 119 139 3)

5) 25 67

Procellaria assimilis 6) 80

diomedea 6) 80

IS gravis 6 ) 80

grisea 6 ) 80

puffinus 6) 80

2) 133 4) 56 6) 41

151 5) 26 68 6) 51 70

3) 59-61

6) 75 76 77 alchata 6) 75 76 77

68 50 76 77

76 77 bicinctus 6) 76 77

2) 65 3) 18 106

burchelli 6) 76 78

decor atus 6) 76 78

gutturalis 6) 76 77

indicus 6) 76 77

16 105 4) 21 97

Ptilostomus afev 1) 27 2) 52 53 68 119 3) 23 92 4) 23 5) 71 58 74

( Ptyonoprogne ) ~ Hirundo obsoleta 3) 89 €>) 57

( Ptyonoprogne ) = Hirundo rupestris 3) 89 Puffinus puffinus 6} 38

Pyononotidae 5) 47

Pyononotus barbatus 1) 27 40 52 62 2) 19 40 52 68 119 150 3) 24

77 4) 67 101 5) 29 70 6) 58

( Pyrrherodia) = Ardea purpurea 2) 128

Pyrrhula pyrrhula 4) 10

( Pyrrhurus ) = Chlorocichla flavicollis 3) 77

( Pyrrhurus ) = Phy llastrephus soandens 3) 77

Pytilia hypogrammica 1) 28 2) 20 5) 30

melba 2) 48 3) 28 98 4) 46 5) 72 5) 66

phoenicoptera 1) 28 42 3) 28 97 5) 72 6) 71

1

Quelea erythrops 1) 28 41 53 64 2) 53 118 3) 96 5) 30

quelea 1) 28 127-133 142 2) 46 3) 2 11 27 96 4) 33 35 5} 71

6) 66

Eallus caerulescens 1) 145-146

(Raphidura) = Chaetura sabini 3) 50

Reaurvirostra avosetta 1) 108 2) 63 142 3) 17 4) 46 72 75 81 89 986)47

Remiz = ( Anthoscopus ) parvulus 1) 28 147 2) 53 3) 26

punctifrons 2) 45 3) 69

Remizidae 5) 48

(Rhinocorax) = Corvus rhipidurus 3) 54

( Rhinoptilus ) = Cursorius ehaloopterus 2) 145 6) 48

Rhodopeahy s githaginea 4) 91 6) 64

Rhynchops flavirostris 1) 17 24 2) 64 147 4) 99 5) 64 68

Riparia cinota 3) 88

21

Riparia

paludioola 1) 26 2) 116 3) 22 88 5) 70

riparia 1) 26 2) 36 67 3) 22 88 4)- 73 75 82 84 89 105 107

5) 78 6) 57

Rostratula bengalensis 1) 59 108 2) 52 142' 3) 17 106 5) 26 68

Sagittariidae 5) 47

Sagittarius serpentarius 1) 19 24 101 2) 132 3) 8 15 105 4) 21

5) 25 65 67

Salpornis spilonota 2) 20 24 3) 26 4) 68

( Sarciophorus) ~ Vanellus teotus 2) 142

Sarkidiornis melanota 1) 23 96 2) 132 3) 13 104 4) 20 55 5) 25 66 6)40

Sarothrura hohmi 1) 59

pulchra 2) 140 3) 106

spp. 3) 16

Saxicola rubetra 1) 27 52 62 2) 19 23 40 52 119 3) 24 39 81 4) 67

82 92 102 105 5) 29 6) 59

torquata 3) 68 70 ‘81 4) 73 75 82 86 89-91

(Sooptelus) ~ Phoenioutus aterrimus 2) 154

Soopus umbretta 1) 23 49 2) 17 58 114 129 3) 12 65 104 4) 19 66

96 5) 24 66 6) 39

Soenopoeetes dentirostris 5) 54

Saotepelia peli 1) 21 25 5) 27 64 68

(Saotornis) ~ Caprimulgus climaourus 2) 156

Serinus gularis 3) 99 5) 71

leuQopygius 2) 46 69 3) 27 99 5) 71

mozambious 1) 28 53 2) 21 69 119 3) 27 99 5) 30 71 6) 65

(Sigmodus) - Prionops oanioeps 3) 89

(Sitagra) - Ploceus luteolus 3) 95

Smithornis rufolateralis 1) 51 4) 50

Speirops lugubris 3) 50

Spermophaga haematina 1) 54 64 3) 97 6) 91

Sphenoaeous ( =Melociohla) mentalis 1) 40 2) 19 117 4) 60 67

( Spiloptila) ~ Prinia atamans 3) 87

Sporopipes frontalis 2) 47 3) 28 95

Spreo puloher 2) 39 68 118 149 3) 23 93 4) 49 6) 64 95

(Steganura ) - Vidua orientalis 3) 99 6) 66

(Stelgidillas) = Andropadus gracilirostris 3) 77

( Stephanibyx) ~ Vane'llus lugubris 2) 142

Stephanoaetus ooronatus 1) 50 2) 135 4) 97

Steroorarius parasiticus 4) 72 75 81 5) 78 6) 48 81 longicaudus 6) 82

pomarinus 4) 81 6) 81

skua 4) 72 75 81 6) 81

sp. 2) 63

Sterna albifrons 1) 39 2) 53 64 146 4) 82 99 5) 68 6) 50 83

anaethetus 2) 52 53 6) 83

balaenarum 2) 52 53 benghalensis 6) 49 83

(-Hydroprogne) (oaspia) - tschearava 4) 82 99 5) 31 91

dougallii 2) 146 4) 82 49 83 fuscata 6) 83

hirundo 2) 52 64 146 4) 82 91 99 0) 49 83

L

22

Sterna

(^Chlidonias) hybrida 1) 108 2) 52 3) 18 106 4) 82 99 6) 50 83

( -Chlidonias ) leucoptera 1) 19 25 109 3} 8 18 106 4) 72 75

82 99 5) 26 6) 50 83

maxima 2) 52 6) 16 49 83

(-Chtidonias ) nigra 1) 19 25 109

(-Geloohelidon) nilotiaa 1) 108

sandvioensis 2) 52 64 146 4) 72

tschegrava (=caspia} 1) 45 3) 1

paradisea 6) 49 83

2) 52 63 4) 46 82 6) 50 74 83

2) 64 3} 18 4) 82 99 6) 49 83

75 82 89 99 5) 91 6) 49 74 83

40 6) 49 83

spp. 5) 91

( Stigmatopelia) - Streptopelia senegalensis 2) 148

Stiphrornis erythrogaster 1) 52 4) 67

Streptopelia decipiens 2) 30 52 53 65 119 148 3) 18 107 5) 68

lugent'. 3) 18 106 decaocto 6) 50

roseogrisea 2) 30 65 148 3) 18 5) 68

semitorquata 1) 25 50 60 2) 17 52 119 148 3) 18 106 4) 66- 99

5) 26 68 6) 50

50

(-Stigmatopelia) senegalensis 1) 25 38 39 147 2) 17 30 52 65 119

3) 18 107 4) 99 5) 26 68 6} 51

turtur 1) 43 66-67 2) 29 65 78 148 3) 18 53 106 4) 73 75 82 84

85 89 6) 51

vinacea 1) 25 147 2) 17 23 29 52 65 111 148 3) 18 107 4) 66

5) 21 26 68 6) 50

spp. 5) 90

Strigidae 5) 47

Struthio oamelus 1) 91-93 2} 127 3) 104 4) 17 5) 24

Struthionidae 5) 47

Sturnidae 5) 48

Sturnus vulgaris 4) 82

Sula bassana 2) 57 4) 72 74 80 89 0) 38 81 leucogaster 6) 81

Sylvia atrioapilla 1) 63 2) 68 3) 25 82 4) 75-79 83 89 102 5) 70

borin 1) 44 53 63 2) 19 43 44 52 71 3) 25 39 82 4) 106 5) 78 6)60 90

cantillans 1) 44 2) 44 71 3) 25 39 82 4) 75-78 83 84 89 106

5) 70 78 0) 61

communis 1) 44 63 2) 43 44 71 3) 25 39 82 4) 75 83 89 90 106

5) 70 78 0) 60 90

conspioillata 4) 75-79 83 84 87 89-91 0) 61 deserticola 6) 61

corruoa 1) 44 2) 43 44 71 3) 25 39 83 4) 83 106

hortensis 2) 43 44 4) 73 75-78 83 84 89

melanooephala 2) 68 4) 75-79 83 87 89 6) 61

mystacea 3) 25

nana 3) 83

ruepelli 2) 44 3) 82

Sylvietta braehyura 1) 27 2) 19 21 22 24 68 3) 26 69 70 85 4) 60

102 5) 29 70 6) 19 61

Virens 1) 53 63 3) 85

Sylviinae 5) 48

Syrrhaptes 6) 75-78

Tachybaptus (=Podioeps =Poliooephalus ) rufiaollis 3) 54 4) 55

(Taohymarptis ) = Apus melba 4) 57

Tadorna tadorna 4) 80 6) 40

Taeniopygia guttata 4) 13

Tauraco leucolophus 5) 2 7 bannermani 6) 5

macrorhynchus 1) 50 4) 1

persa 1) 50 60 2) 116 150 4) 57 66 99

Tchagra australis 3) 91

minuta 1) 39 4) 67 107 5) 29

23

I

Tchagra

senegala 1) 27 39 52 2) 19 24 38 52 67 119 3) 23 91 4) 67

5) 29 71 6) 63

(Tohitrea) ~ Tevpsiphone viridis 3) 79

Tufiventer 3) 79

rufocinerea 3) 97 6) 71

(Telaoanthuva) “ Chaetura melanopygia 3) 50

ussheri 2) 116 158 6) 17

Tevathopius ecaudatus 1) 20 98 2) 136 3) 14 105 4) 20 56

5) 25 64 67 6) 42

Tevpsiphone (-Tohitrea) rufiventer 1) 53 63 4) 67 102 5) 30 6) 72

(^Tchitrea) vividis 1) 28 53 63 2) 20 3) 26 4) 60 67 102

5) 30 70

Thalassornis leuoonotus 2) 130 3) 11 14 6} 15

( Thamnolaea) = Myvmecooiohla oinnamomeiventris 3) 80

aoronata 4) 23

Thesaeloeiohla leuoopleuva 1) 52 62

Threskiornis aethiopioa 1) 49 95 2) 17- 58 114 130 3) 8 13 104

4} 20 96 5) 24 66

Tigriornis leuaolopha 4) 95 96

Timaliinae 5) 48

Toakus oamurus 1) 51 61

erythrorhynchus 1) 20 26 2) 34 66 154 3) 21 4) 58 5) 69 6) 55

fasciatus ( =semifasaiatus) 1 ) 51 61 2} 18 52 116 4) 56 67 100

hartlaubi 1) 51 61

nasutus 1) 26 61 2) 18 23 34 66 154 3) 21 4) 67 5) 21 28 69 6) 55

( semi fasciatus ) ~ fasciatus 2) 154

(Torgos) = Aegypius tracheliotus 2) 133 4) 20 6) 41

Trachyphonus margaritatus 2) 35 137

purpuratus 1) 51 61

Treron (-Vinago) australis 1) 25 50 60 2) 17 52 149 4) 66 5) 26 6) 16

calva 2) 115

(^Vinago) waalia 1) 25 2) 65 119 149 3) 19 4) 22 5) 26 6) 70

Triahastoma ( -Malacocincla) cleaveri 1) 53

fulvescens 3) 76 6) 91

puveli 1) 63 3) 76

rufipennis 1) 52

( Trioho laema) = Lyvius hirsutus 2)^ 157

Trigonoceps occipitalis 1) 23 97 2) 133 3) 14 105 4) 56 5) 25

64 66

Tringa cinerea 2) 144

erythropus 1) 24 59 107 2) 62 144 3) 17 106 4) 72 74 81 89 98

5) 68 6) 47

glareola 1) 24 43 50 106 2) 51 62 123 143 3) 17 39 106 4) 57

66 72 74 81 89 98 105 5) 26 68 90 6) 46

hypoleucos 1) 24 50 59 106 146 2) 51 62 119 123 143 3) 17 106

4) 66 72 74 81 89 98 5) 26 68 6) 46 90

24

Troohooereus (-Elminia ^Eranornis) longioauda 1) 28 5) 30 70

nigromitratus 1) 63

nitens 1) 63

Trogonidae 5) 47 48

Tropicranus alboaristatus 1) 51 61 ^6

Turdoides (-Argya) fulvus 2) 42

plebejus 1) 27 2) 19 42 52 68 119 149 3) 24 76 4) 102 5) 29 70 6)94

reinwardii 1) 27 2) 19 52 54 119 149 3) 76 4) 107 6) 95

Turdinae 6) 48

Turdus iliaous 5) 54

libonyanus 3) 79

olivaceus 5) 54

pelios 1) 27 40 52 63 2) 19 52 117 3) 24 4) 102 5) 29. 54 70 6) 19

philomelos 3) 79 6) 54 6) 58

torquatus 3) 69 70 6) 34 58

Turnioidae 5) 47

Turnix sylvatica 1) 25' 2) 29 147 3) 18

Tuvtuv abyssi-nioa 1) 25 2) 1 7 21 22 52 53 119 149 3) 19 66

4) 99 5) 68 6) 51

afer 1) 39 50 60 117 2) 52 54 119 149 4) 66 99 5) 26 6) 8-10

bvehmeri 1) 50 60 3) 49 6) 8-10 70 71

tympanistria 1) 50 60 4) 66 99 6) 8-10

Tyto alba 1) 25 60 67 2) 17 31 154 3) 19 53 4) 100 5) 27 68

Tytonidae 5) 47

Upupa epops 1) 26 43 B) 33 66 154 4) 82 85 86 91 92 5) 21 28 69 90 6) 55

Upupidae 5) 47

( Uraeginthus ) = Estrilda bengala 3) 99 6) 66

Vrotriorohis macrourus 1) 49

Vanellus (-Xiphidioptevus) albiceps 1) 17 24 50 59 146 2) 115 3) 16 106

5) 26 67

Vanellus (=Chettusia) levcura 5) 90

i^Stephanibyx) lugubris 2) 51 3) 16 106 4) 66 97

senegallus 1) 24 105 2) 61 115 142 3) 16 106 4) 66 106 5) 21 26 67 6) 46

(=Hoplopterus) spinosus 1) 24 59 66 105 2) 28 61 115 3) 16 106 5) 67 0) 16 46

^uperciliosus 2) 17

(^Sarciophorus) teotus 1) 24 105 2) 61 3) 61 106 5) 26 68 6) 46 70

vanellus 2) 61 70 4) 81 91 6) 33 45

Vidua Qomerunensis 2) 20

(^Hypoohera) chalybeata 1) 28 2) 47 69 3) 28 69 70 5) 30 72

funerea 4) 68 5) 72

(-Hypocheva) lorenzi 1) 68

maaroura 1) 28 41 54 64 2) 20 53 69 119 3) 28 99 4) 68 103 5) 30 72 6} 66

(^Steganura) orientalis 1) 28 41 2) 20 48 69 3) 28 4) 60 68 5) 30 72

(-Hypoohera) spp, 2) 53 5) 48 *

(Vinago) = Treron australis 5) 68

waalia 5) 68

(Xiphidioptevus) = Vanellus albiceps 2) 142

Zosteropidae 5) 48

Zosterops senegalensis 1) 28 2) 20 24 3) 27 93 5) 30 71 6) 71

II AUmORS AND OMEOTS

(Vols 1 “ 5)

ADBGO^, A.S. Diet of the Village Weaver Floceua cusutlatus 5) 79 - 89

AIDLEY, D.J. see WIULIAMS, R.

ALI, B. see HAMZA M.

AYENI, J.S.O. A guineafowl research program in Nigeria 1) 32 - 35

Home range size, breeding behaviour, and activities of Helmet Qilneafowl

Nrniida meleagris in Nigeria 5) 37 - 43

BEBCROFT, R. & WILKINSŒ^, R. Additions to local avifaunas: Kano State 5) 93

BESSEE, J. see HAMZA, M.

BŒL, W. see HANGA, M.

BCHTOLI, L. see BRÜGGERS, R.L.

BROWE, P.W.P. Birds observed near Lomé, Tc^ in 1976 and 1977 2) 51 - 55

New bird species in Mauritania 3) 63 - 72

Palaearctic birds wintering in Southwest Rfa,in*itania; species, distributions

and population estimates 4) 69 - 92

BRUGGEES, R.L. see HAMZA, M.

BRUG^®S, R.L. & BORIDLI, L. Notes on breeding, parasitism and association

with wasps by Heuglin's Weaver nesting on telephone wires in Mali 1) 135 - 144

CHAPPUIS, C. Lists of sound“recorded Ethiopian Birds 2) 1-15, 82-98

CHAPPUIS, C. , EEARD, C. & MOREL, G. J. Données conparatives sur la morophologie

et les vocalisations des diverses formes û^Eypodotis rufiarista (Snith) 1) 74 - 89

CHEKE, R.A. Jfore bird records from the Republic of Togo 4) 55 - 63

OffiKE, R.A. h WAI^, J.F. Birds records from the Republic of Togo 2) 112 - 120

00ŒC, A.W. & MUNDY, P.J. Ruppell’s Griffon Vulture at Kotorkoshi 2) 102 - 105

CRICK, H.Q.P. & FRY, C.H. Level-ground nesting by Merops bulooki 2) 73 - 75

QRICK, H.Q.P. & MARSHALL, P.J. The birds of Yankari Game Reserve, Nigeria:

their abundance and seasonal occurence 3) 103 - 113

see also SHARLAND, R.E.

WIUCINSON, R. & AIDLEY, D.J. The status of Savi's Warbler in Nigeria. 4) 49

WILSON, R.T. Environmental changes in westo^n Darfur, Sudan, over half a

century and their effects on selected bird species. 4) 15-26

WINK, M. Hypoaheva lorenzi in Ghana. 1) 68

On the diets of warblers, weavers and other Ghanaian birds, 3) 114 - 115

AUTHORS AND CONTENTS (Vol 6)

BLASDALE, P, Some observations on Black-crowned and White-backed Night

Herons 85-89

Nestling-feeding behaviour of Lesser Wood Hoopoes 91-92

BROWNE, P.W.Po Seven new species for Conakry, Guinea 74

CHEKE, R.A. & WALSH, J.F. Further bird records from the Republic of

Togo 15-22

COLEBROOK-ROBJENT, T.F.R. See IRWIN, M.P.S.

DE SCHAETZEN, R. See JACOB, J-P.

DUPUY, A.R. Synthèse sur les oiseaux de mer observés au Sénégal 79-84

DYER, M. Aspects of the breeding biology of Carmine and Little Bee-eaters

at Zaria, Nigeria 23-30

FARMER, R. Ear- tufts in a Glaucidium Owl 67-69

FRY, C.H. Eye size in Oena and Turtur 8-10

GARTSHORE, M.E. Notes on the nesting of two little knoim bee-eaters in

Cameroon 95-96

GEE, J.P. The birds of Mauritania 31-66

GREEN, A. A. Additional bird records from Bamingui-Bangoran National Park,

Central African Republic 70-72

IRWIN, M.P.S. A COLEBROOK-ROBJENT, J.F.R. Request for information:

Clamator hosts 69

JACOB, J-P, & DE SCHAETZEN, R, Découverte de Moineau doré Passer luteus

dans l'extrême sud de 1' Algérie en relation avec le peuplement du

nord du Niger 73-74

JONES, P. J. The status of the Pygmy Kingfisher Ceyx picta in northeastern

Nigeria 11-14

MACLEAN, G.L. Evolutionary trends in the sandgrouse (Pteroclididae) 75-78

MOORE, A. Levaillant's Cuckoo 'Clamator levaillanti. fed by Brown babblers

Turdoides plebejus 94-95

SHARLAND, R.E. Ringing in Nigeria 1983. 26th annual report 90-91

STUART, S.N. ICBP Cameroon montane forest survey 5-7

TYE, A. Long-tailed Nightjar drinking in flight 4

WALSH, J.F. See CHEKE, R.A.

WILKINSON, R. Variation in eye colour in Blue-eared Glossy Starlings 2-4

T

Ift

' >'

v|25l

8id5 MAUMBUS

)

Journal of the West African Ornithological Society

Société d’Ornithologie de l’Ouest Africain

THE BIRDS OF IVORY COAST

j J. M. THIOLLAY

\

I

VOLUME 7 1985

Numher 1 , May

WEST AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

SOCIÉTÉ D’ORNITHOLOGIE DE L’OUEST AFRICAIN

Conseil 1982-1985

Président Professeur Brian J. Harris

Vice-Président Dr Gérard J, Morel

Secrétaire Professeur John H. Elgood

Trésorier Mr Robert E. Sharland

Editeur, Malimbus Dr C. Hilary Fry

La correspondance doit être adressée comme suit :

- les manuscrits et les demandes des numéros précédents à l'éditeur

(Aberdeen University Department of Zoology, Tillydrone Avenue,

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

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(Fiat 7 Elsdown Court, Southampton Road, Rin^rwood, Hants, UK)

- les questions d'intérêt général au Président (Department of

Biological Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria)

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

B. P. 20, Sénégal)

- les autres questions au Secrétaire général (26 Walkford Way,

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

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

fondée en 1964. Son but est de promouvoir l'intérêt scientifique

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

logie de ces régions principalement au moyen de son journal Malimbus

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

Les demandes d'adhésion seront les bienvenues. Les cotisations '

annuelles * sont de Bfi pour les membres ordinaires, et de 15£ pour |

les Sociétés. Les membres reçoivent gratuitement Malimbus , ■

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

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

ponibles. Prix à la demande.

* les cotisations doivent être payées en livres sterling ou en francs

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

appartient le copyright de Malimbus .

ISSN : 0331 - 3689

Emblem design by Philip Blasdale

The Birds of Ivory Coast; Status and Distribution

by Jean -Marc Thiol lay

Received 8 October 1984

Since the first check-list of the birds of Ivory Coast (Brunei Se Thiollay

1969-70) , a considerable amount of new data have been obtained through

field work by the author in 1967-1984 eind by numerous other ornithologists

(see Acknowledgements) , many resident in the country for tvo or more years.

A more accurate statement has become possible and is much needed by the

increasing number of birdmtchers attracted to this country, which is nov7

one of the easiest, safest and most rewarding for tourism in West Africa.

The maintenance of the best preserved and the largest areas of natiiral.

guinea \-ODdland, dense rain forest, and coastal laaoons xæst of Cameroon

makes Ivory Coast unique for study of the primitive avifauna of humid

western Africa.

With its record of 683 species Ivory Coast is one of the richest

countries of its size in Africa. If a few new species remain to be

discovered (perhaps 20-30, mostly vagrants) , much more remains to be learnt

about distribution, seasonal movements, ecological requirements, and

breeding of the majority of species. The need is urgent, in view of the

rapidly dwindling populations of many species.

TOPOGRAPHY

2

Ivory Coast is 320,763 km in extent, with about 8 million inhabitants.

Altitude increases gently from the coastal zone to the northern half of

the country, v\iiere it does not exceed 300-400 m except for some granite

inselbergs reaching 600-700 m. But the northv\estem mountain range, from

Mt Peko to the Mali-Guinea border, has a mean altitude around 500 m, with

numerous summits between 800 and 1 ,300 m and with Mt Nimba on the Tâberia-

Guinea border culminatinq at 1,752 m. Only the peak of Nimba lies above

the critical 1 ,500 m level, considered by Moreau (1966) to be the lovTer

limit of montane habitat.

The three large, north-south river systems are the Comoe, Bandaira and

Sassandra. They do not offer any obstacle or guide line to birds distribu-

tion.

Climate

The annual climatic fluctuations depend on the north-south movement of the

Intertropical Front alternately cfiving cool moist winds from the southern

equatorial maritime air mass (rainy season) and hot. dry harmattan from the

northern tropical continental air mass. Fia. 1 shows that annual rainfall

> 2,000 mm occurs only in the extreme southeast, southwest and west of the

country. Rainfall dœreases to a minimum of 900 mm near the Upper Volta

border in the northeast. In the south, the usual pattern is a long rainy

season (April-mid July) followed by a short drier season (July-September) ,

2

then a short rainy season (mid September-November) and a long dry season

(December-March) . This bimodal distribution of the rains gradually changes

into a unimodal pattern in the north with a single rainy season from June to

September. There is much variation from year to year. The Sahel drought of

the early 1970s did not affect very much of Ivory Coast, but it marked the

beainning of a steady, long-term decline of rainfall vÆiich, since 1982, has

had increasingly severe effects.

The Mean monthly temperature remains all year around 25*^0 in the forest

zone, but in the extreme north it shows a mûniraum in December-January

(23-25°C) , a maximum in March-April (30-32*^0) , and a decrease during the

rains. The mean amplitude of temperatures, relative humidity and also cloud

cover decrease from south to north. The annual maximum difference in day

length increases from about 35 to 60 minutes.

Main habitats and vegetation zones

The coastal zone has the densest human settlement but also the widest variety

of habitats. Behind the low sandy sea coast, a dry sand belt is covered

with coconut palm plantations, locally replaced by dense bushes v.iiich are

the home of several northern savanna species {Laniarius , Crinifer,

Nectarinia) . They reach the coast because of its relatively dry soils.

Behind this narrow belt, very larae lagoons are found with extensive man-

groves {Rhizophora , Avicennia) , open swamps with floating vegetation and

locally dense Raphia palm swamp forest. Formerly, natural savannas with

dense Brachiaria-Loudetia-Hyperrhenia grass cover and Ficus-Bridelia-

Borassus woodland grew along some of the lagoons (e.a. Ebri^) , the lowest

ones being seasonally flooded (Azagny, Grand Lahou) . They are now covered

by huae plantations of Oil-palm, Hevea, etc., which are ornitholoaical

deserts. Very few forests remain in these coastal plains where farmlands,

r icefields and secondary growth have taken the place of the priimitive

habitats .

The forest zone which extends over the southern half of Ivory Coast may

be divided into a moister evergreen southern rainforest {> 1 ,600 ram annual

rainfall, with trees such as Lophira alata, Tarrieta utilis, Cynometra,

Turraeanthus , Entandophragma , Mimusops and Piptadenia) , and a drier northern

semideciduous forest, with between 1,350 and 1,600 mm rainfall {Triplochyton

scleroxylon , Mansonia altissima , Chlorophora excelsa, Antiaris af ricana and

Sterculia tragacantha are characteristic trees) . The south-western, most

humid part of the forest (Sassaudra to Tai and across the Cavally river) is

known as the Sassandra Pleistocene forest refuge and has the richest

avifauna.

Along the northern edge of the forest block lies the forest-savanna mosaic

of the southern guinea zone. It is a narrow belt on the two sides of the

country around 8*^ (see Fig. 2) , but in the centre it extends imuch further

south, to 6*^ at Lamto, into the forest zone (the area is called the V

Baoule) . In the savanna high dense grass cover {Loudetia , Hyparrhenia ,

Imperata) is dominated by a well developed woodland {Piliostigma ,

Cussonia , Crossopteryx) viiose most characteristic feature is the palm

Borassus aethiopum. Numerous dense gallery forests divide this savanna;

Ceiba pentandra and Cola cordi folia are typical trees. This area is more

and more degraded by the dense human population.

North of 8*% and the 1 ,200 m. isohyet, the northern guinea zone is

3

Fig. 1. Isohyets and monthly rainfall (mm) (in Devineau 1984)

4

NORTHERN' GUINEA SAVANNA

I I SUDAN ZONE

Fiq. 2. Main vegetation zones and localities cited. A = Azagny N.P.,

C = CoîToé N.P., M = Maroué N.P., T = Tai N.P.

5

œvered by an often nearly œntinuous, rather dense, savanna woodland

(including many Daniella , Isoberlinia , Lophira, Diospyros and Uapaca) ,

interrupted by infrequent gallery forests bordering the few permanent

watercourses. Other dense patches of forest remain on rocky slopes,

protected from fires or spared by farmers near villages of the Korhogo

area for religious reasons. Both these relict sacred woods and large

gallery forests allow many forest species to enter far into the savanna

zone. Bare granitic inselbergs and flat lateritic plateaux (concretionary-

ironstone deposits) , covered only by a thin grass layer of Sporobolus

during the rains, are typical features of this large northern guinea zone.

Contrary to viiat happens from Ghana to Nigeria, the human population here

is sparse and confined to only a small part.

The far northern border of the country is the dry Sudan (or better

subsudan) zone. Butyrospermum , Parkia and Adansonia are numerous in

cultivated areas, and the woodlands are conposed of a Monotes-Burkea-

Erythrophleum-Berlinia-Parinari association.

Other habitats are:

- Large inland lakes, dams, and hydroelectric reservoirs in the southv;est

(Buyo) , sou-theast (Ayamé) , centre (Taabo, Kossou) and north (Ferkessedougou) .

Their fluctuating level does not allow the development of re€5d beds or other

aquatic vegetation.

- During the dry season, many rocky or sand banks appear on the rivers and

are the typical habitat of several species {Glareola, Oedicnemus , Vanellus)

as well as good fishing sites for herons, egrets, storks and kingfishers.

- True montane forest is restricted between 1 ,300 m and 1 ,600 m on Mt

Nirnba. It is dense and very humid, rich in tree-ferns and epiphytes.

- Montane grassland, on the ridge of Mt Nirnba, harbours a few endemics

{Saxicola, Anthus , Cisticola) .

MIGRATIONS

One of the main consequences of climatic fluctuations are savanna bush

fires. Almost the entire guinea and sudan zones are burnt every dry season

(mainly .December to February) . The destruction of the grass cover and the

defoliation of trees are followed immediately in the south, later in the

north, by green regrowth. The habitat is then suitable for many migratory

species, viiich disappear viien the rains reduce food accessibility through

the growth of high dense vegetation.

Of the 683 species, 102 are Palearctic migrants, 38 are intra-African

migrants breeding outside Ivory Coast and 25 are intra-African migrants

breeding within the country, in the dry season. r4any more species perform

local seasonal movements or have fluctuating numbers, without ever leaving

the co-untry- conpletely. Most, if not all, of the migratory movements are

northward at the onset of the rainy season and southward in the early d2:Y

season. So general is the migratory tendency among the avifauna that I

wonder if there is a single savanna or open wetland species v\hich is fully

sedentary over all its range.

6

By contrast, many forest species appear to be sedentary although several

frugivores {Bycanistes , Psittacus , Treron^ Lamprotornis) show locally

important seasonal variations of abundance.

POPlITuATIQN CHANGES AND CONSERVATION

Outside some large agricultural schemes (Ferkessedougou area) , nost of the

northern savannas are yet undisturbed, except for the destruction of their

large mammal fauna. The central and southern savannas have been more

affected by the growth of human population and living standards than southern

ones, and plantations are rapidly destroying the last natural areas. The

forest zone has change^d dramatically during the last 30 years. The renain-

ing primary forest, estimated at 11.8 million hectares in 1956, was reduced

to 4 M ha in 1976 and to 0.4 M ha in 1984. Intensive logging and road net-

work construction have been followed by waves of immigrants in search of

agricultural lands and by huge commercial plantations. Hunting pressure in

the remaining patches of secondary forest quickly eliminates the large mammals

and birds, which are already severely affected by habitat destruction.

Fortunately sizeable representative areas of virgin habitat have been

preserved in national parks or equivalent reserves within each main

vegetation zone: Banco forest near Abidjan (2,900 ha), Azagny (marshes

and swanp forest, 30,000 ha) , Ta'i (dense rain forest, 330,000 ha) , Mt Nimba

(montane forest, 5,000 ha), Mt Peko and Mt Sangbé (63,000 ha) as well as

Lamto (2,700 ha) and Maraoué (100,000 ha) in the forest-savanna mosaic zone,

and Comoé (1.1 M ha) in the northern guinea zone. Together their cover 5%

of the country. Although intensive poaching greatly reduces the mairmal

fauna, it does not seem directly to affect birds within the parks.

Large areas of open farmlands and derived savanna created in the forest

zone are colonized by numerous savanna species, which now have a continuous

distribution from the guinea zone to the coast (v\here most of them had a

relict population) . Large new reservoirs have also favoured range extensions

of many wetlands birds previously lacking inland suitable habitat. The

development of r icefields (not all cultivated every year) also favours

many marsh and granivorous birds.

Many of the early data of Bouet & Millet Horsin (1916-17) give a

different picture of the avifauna at that time. Although limited to only a

few localities, they show two striking phenomena:

1 Many large birds (Darter, geese, storks, eagles, bustards, Great Turaœ

and Hornbills) were much more abundant and widespread than today. Hunting

pressure and habitat destruction have eliminated many local populations

and confined the healthy ones to national parks.

2 Although at that time, most of the forest zone was yet undisturlæd and

probably unbroken over huge areas, a surprisingly high number of species,

now restricted to the guinea or even sudan belts, was cited from the

coastal area (Grand Bassam, Abidjan) .

More generally, many species' distributions had much rrore southern limits

than today (or at least than in the 1960-1 970s). The first 15 or so years

of the century are well known to have been a dry periai, similar to or even

7

worse than the present years, including not only spectacular droughts but

also a general reduction of mean annual rainfall over most of West Africa.

The intervening 40 or so years are considered a humid period which has

probably shaped the distributional features of birds today.

The present driness is undoubtedly responsible for the increasing number

of species (see text) newly occurring in northern Ivory Coast, either as

dry season vagrants or by increasing their ranges southward. For instance,

in the well known Lamto reserve, after 15 years of intensive studies, 12

new species have been recorded since 1982. They are both sedentary and

migratory, breeding and non-breeding species. Several other species, all

of more northern origin, have increased in density or frequency.

PFESENTATiœ OF DATA

The sequence of families and species, as well as scientific and English

names, follow Serle & Morel (1977) with a few modifications taken from Hall

& r-toreau (1970) , Snow (1978) and VJhite (1960-65) when it seemed more

appropriate. Alternative names of Bannerman (1953) , used in a preliminairy

check-list (Brunei & Thiollay 1969-70) are in parenthesis. Except in a

few cases, names of subspecies are not given because most are insufficiently

studied; determination can be made from the literature.

All the data given without references are personal observations (birds

seen or collected) or from Brunei & Thiollay (loc. cit.) and associated

bibliography. Additional information provided by other people is included,

but names of observers or references to published data are given only when

there are no other records for the area. Years are not cited since they

depend more on observers' than birds' presences. All are from 1967 to

1984.

The country has been surveyed unevenly, the centre, southwest and

northeast being much better known than the northwest or southeast. So the

localities cited reflect frequency of visits more than the real distribu-

tion of the birds, and lack of records from an area does not mean that the

species is absent unless that is ej^licitly stated. Only the principal

extreme range localities are given; the numerous intervening places are

ignored. As the distributional limits of most species are latitudinal,

typical well-surveyed localities are cited along the central south-north

axis (Abidjan to Lamto, Bouaké and Ferkessédougou) , to characterize the

northern or southern limits of the species which run roughly at the same

latitude, within the same vegetation zone, from east to west of the country.

Any geographical name means a rather large area all around, to avoid an

excessive multiplication of obscure place names which do not have special

significance. Even the large National Parks (Tdi, Maraou^, Comod) have

been taken as a whole, even when they cross different vegetation zones or

habitats .

Status is summarized by the following abbreviations:

R = resident, i.e. at least a large part of the population remains within

the country all year even if there is much seasonal fluctuations

betw^een areas;

8

M = migrant y i.e. most of the population leaves the country, usually during

the rainy season. However, some individuals (immature birds) may remain

in small numbers all year (some intra-African migrants in northern Ivory

Coast and rteny Palearctic migrants throughout) ;

A = intra-African , mostly originating from Sudan or Sahel zones;

P = Palearctic , of Eurasian or North Africa origin;

V = vagrant , i.e. irregular or rare;

R = breeds in Ivory Coast. Nests have been found or breeding proofs

obtained for most species. Some residents, for viiich data are lacking,

are assumed to breed when their year-round presence has been actually

established and no movements have been cited elseviiere in their range.

Terms like 'widespread* or 'common' always mean "in the remaining

suitable habitats" since many species' distributions are now increasingly

patchy because of forest fragmentation and other habitat destruction or

heavy hunting pressure.

RMH = Bouet & Millet-Horsin (1916-1917); FIV = Forbes-Watson (1971).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This work has greatly benefitted from the numerous data provided by

resident and visiting ornithologists. The most inportant set of country-

wide observations were gathered by the late J. Brunei, C. Chappuis,

J.P. Champroux, J.P. Ledant and D. Parelius. I am also much indebted to

F. Adam, J. Arbeille, L. Bellier, A. Cheke, A. Deguillaume, R. Demey,

F. Lauginie, P. Malivemey, A. Ouattara, H. Prendergast, G. Ullmann,

J. Untermaier, P. Vogel, R. Vuattoux and W. Weitkowitz. Finally, F. Roux,

Director of the C.R.B.P.O. (National Museum, Paris), kindly gave me access

to his files of ringed birds recovered in West Africa. To all of them, I

am very grateful for their contribution including often an invaluable help

in the field.

SYSTETWIC LIST

PODICIPEDIDAE

Pociceps (Poliocephalus) ruficollis Dabchick R B ? Regular on lakes and

ponds of the interior from Taabo to Korhogo and Comoé, sometimes up to 25

together (Ramoussoukro) . At least local movements.

PROCELLARIIDAE

Calonectris ( Procellaria ) dimedea Cory's Sheairwater PM? Several

specimens collected at sea near Abidjan (INTES) .

Pterodroma (Bulweria) mollis Soft-plumaged Petrel V ? One sight

record offshore near Jacqueville (Feb, Ledant) .

Oceanites océaniens Wilson's Petrel M (from Antarctic) . Seen several

times at sea near Abidjan (Nov-Mar) .

9

PHALACROCORACIDAE

Anhinga rufa African Darter R B ? Small numbers on inland and coastal

waters in every month. Local movements. Formerly much more abundant (BMH) .

Phalacrocorax car bo I#iite-breasted Cormorant V . One specimen, well

seen and described on a lake near Ferkessedouqou (Apr, Malivemey) .

Phalacrocorax africanus Reed Cormorant R B ? Quite common on most

inland lakes and coastal lagoons all year. Some movements.

ARDEIDAE

Ixobrychus minutus Little Bittern R B (+ P M ?) . Isolated birds

recorded in most swamps and reed beds from Azagny to Korhogo and Comoé.

Only the African race payes ii has been so far identified, but Palearctic

migrants mey occur.

Ixobrychus sturmii African Dwarf Bittern A M ? B ? 16 isolated records

from Abidjan, San Pedro and Grabo to Larato, Toumodi, Bouaké and Comoé, mostly

in the dry season, on dense or \-\ODded mershes or ponds.

Tigriornis leucolopha African Tiger Heron R B . Widespread throuahout

the forest zone, alona forest streams (even small watercourses in dense

undergrowth) from coastal mangroves to Comoé.

Nycticorax leuconotus Lliite-backed Night Heron R B . Much less abun-

dant and widespread and even more secretive and nocturnal than Tigriornis ,

but known from several localities, along forested rivers from Tai to I.amto

and Bouaké,

Nycticorax nycticorax Black-crowned Night Heron R B + p M ? Very local

on some lagoons (Grand Bassan to Azaany) and inland lakes (from Ayamê to

Korhogo and Comoé) mainly Oct to Apr (Palearctic migrants ?) . A small

resident population is breedincr in manqroves (young brought to Abidjan Zoo,

Lauainie) .

Bubulcus (Arc’eola) ibis Cattle Egret A M . Abundant dry season visitor,

throughout open habitats from Oct to May. Some birds are occasionally seen

from mid-June to early Sep.

Ardeola ralloides Squacco Heron Status unclear. Rather common and

widespread (but solitary) , mainly from Oct to June, on lagoons (Abidjan,

Azagny, San Pedro) and inland lakes and r icefields (Lamto, Bouaké, Korhogo,

Comoé) . May (no proof) include a resident breeding population, African

birds breeding in Mali and European migrants (indistinguishable) .

Butorides striatus Little Green Heron R B . Common along wooded banks

of lagoons, rivers and lakes tloroughout the forest zone, up to Korhogo and

Comoé.

Egretta ardesiaca Black Egret R B ? Locally abundant on some coastal

marshes (Grand Bassam, Azagny, San Pedro) . Also occurs on inland lakes

(Buyo to Bouaké) . Recorded every month. ' o-

Egretta garzetta Little Egret Status ? Common on all coastal or inland

waters. Decreases in July-Aug. Both residents and African or even Palearctic

migrants may be involved.

10

Egretta gularis Reef Heron R B ? Widespread on coastal lagoons (at

least Oct-July) but rarer on inland lakes (Taabo, Kossou, Bouaké) .

Egretta intermedia Yellow^billed Egret R B ? Not uncommon (mostly

solitary birds) from the coast (Abidjan to San Pedro) to Kossou and

Comoé. Often unnoticed among the numerous other egrets. So far only

recorded from Nov to June.

Egretta alba Great I#iite Egret R B A M ? Common in all v/etlands (a

little less numerous than E. garzetta) . More abundant diurina the dry

season .

Ardea cinerea Grey Heron R B A (?) and P M . Widespread throughout

in moderate numbers with a peak from Oct to Mar. A small breeding colony

near Korhocro. One recovery (Soubre) of a bird ringed in Poland.

Ardea melanocephala Black -headed Heron R B . Less numerous than

A. cinerea. Isolated individuals on many types of wetlands and sometimes

drier grasslands, from the coast (Abidjan, Azagny, San Pedro) to Lamto,

Bouaké, Kossou, Comoé, etc. Breeds with A. cinerea near Korhogo.

Ardea purpurea Purple Heron P M R B ? Seems too common throuahout

Ivory Coast in every swamp, reed bed and abandoned r icefield, even from

May to Sep, to include only Palearctic migrants. 4 recoveries from France.

Either a resident breeding population or migrants from a breeding popula-

tion in Mali are suspected.

Ardea goliath Goliath Heron R B . Rare. Solitary individuals

regularly seen only on some coastal swamps (Azagny) or along northern

rivers (Comoé) . Few vagrants elsevliere (Fresco, Kossou) .

SCOPIDAE

Scopus umbretta Hammerkop R B . The small coastal race (minor) is

rare and very local (Azagny) . The northern race (umbretta) is only found

in a few scattered localities along rivers north of the forest (breedinu

in Comoé) .

CICONIIDAE

Ciconia ciconia I^Jhite Stork P M . Uncommon. Small groups, mainly near

bush fires, from Dec to Apr, throughout the savannas, dov,m to Lamto (every

year) and exceptionally to the coast (one killed at Grand Bereby) . 6

recoveries from Germany, Holland, France, Spain and Morocco.

Ciconia ( Sphenorhynchus ) abdimii Abdim's Stork A M B . Occasional

records, mainly during the prebreeding migration (Mar-June) north of Bouaké.

Formerly breeding (Bouna and Ferkessédougou up to 1968) south even to

Bouaké (BliH) but no nest has been found during the last 15 years.

Ciconia ( Dissoura ) episcopus Woolly-necked Stork A M B . By far the

most widespread stork throughout the savanna zone, large forest clearings,

coastal swamps and grasslands. Commoner from Dec to Mar, but also seen

during the wet season on southern (Azagny, San Pedro) as well as northern

(Comoé) wetlands. Usually in pairs.

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis Saddlebill Stork R B ? Isolated pairs in

Comoé only.

11

Anastomus lamelligerus Openbill Stork A M . Vagrants, Nov to May,

along the œast and in the north (Comod, Ouangolodougou and Odienné) .

Also Lamto (Aug, Prendergast) .

Leptoptilos crumeniferus Marabou Stork A M . Uncommon. Mainly Comoé

(max. 3 together) Dec to Apr. 2 old coastal records (BMH) and a recent

one in Lamto (Jan, Vuattoux) .

Ibis (Mycteria ) ibis Yellow-billed Stork A M . Some vagrants (3 to

12) to Comoé (Mar-Apr, Maliverney, Ullmann) .

THPESKIORNITHIDAE

Threskiornis aethiopica Sacred Ibis V . One sight record (Comoé, Feb) .

Bostrychia (Hagedashia) hagedash Hadada Ibis P B . Common throuahout

undisturbed guinean savanna (gallery forest, wooded river banks) . Locally

in the forest zone (lakes, swanps, inundated forest) and along the coast

(mangrove) .

Bostrychia (Lampribis ) rara Spotted-breasted Ibis R B . Only known

from primary humid rain forest (Tai) . Cited from Nimba (R'^) .

Bostrychia (Lampribis ) olivacea Olive Ibis R B . More widespread than

B. rara. Restricted to primary (Tai, Nimba), swamp (Azagny) and even large

gallery forest (Lamto) . Pairs fly over the forest at dusk with loud calls.

Plegadis falcinellus Glossy Ibis V . 16 near Dabou (Feb, Ledant) .

Platalea alba African Spoonbill V . One sighted (Mar, Taabo) .

ANATIDAE

Dendrocygna bicolor Fulvous IS/histling Duck V . 2 birds seen (Korhogo,

Feb) .

Dendrocygna viduata I'^Jhite-faced Whistling Duck R B . Throughout the

year but marked movements. Small numbers scattered in the south (Grand

Bassam, Azagny, Buyo) viiere it is more numerous during the dry season.

More abundant (Apr-Dee) in the northern marshes (especially around Korhogo)

where it breeds (June- Aug) .

Alopochen aegyptiacus Egyptian Goose V . 2 sight records (Coimoé, Feb-

Mar) .

Plectropterus gambensis Spur-winged Goose A M . Regular dry season

visitor in small numbers on northern swamps, lakes and sand banks of large

rivers, south to Bouaké. Recently some imore southern records (Lamto, Buyo) .

Pteronetta hartlaubi Hartlaub's Duck R B . Uncommon, hut formerly

widespread along watercourses throughout the forest zone from coastal

lagoons (Abidjan, Azagny, San Pedro) to Maraoué and Comoé, including man

made lakes (Ayamé) . Range and numbers now much reduced by huntina and

forest destruction.

Sarkidiornis melanotos Comb Duck V . 3 recent dry season records

north of 9^30. A pair cited near Odienné (BMH) .

12

Nettapus auritus African Pygmy Goose R B . Small and varying numbers

in nearly every month on several swamps with floating vegetation from the

coast (Dabou, Azagny, San Pedro) to the north (Korhogo, Ferkessedougou ,

Comoé) . Breeding pairs in Jime-Aug.

Anas querquedula Garganey P M . Increasing occurrence in recent

years on northern (Ferkessédougou, Korhogo) and central (Bouaké) wetlands

in Jan-Mar. Said to be killed by hunters near Abidjan (not confirmed) .

Usually 3 to 20 birds at a time.

Anas clypeata Shoveler P V . One sight record (Ferkessédougou, Feb) .

ACCIPITRIDAE

Aegypius (Torgos) tracheliotus Lappet-faced Vulture V . Several

recent records (solitary birds) from Comoé (Jan to Apr, north of 9*^) .

Also Boundiali (Nov, Ledant) .

Trigonoceps occipitalis \^ite-headed Vulture R B . Uncommon in the

natural savannas north of 8*^. Isolated pairs only.

Gyps rueppellii Ruppell's Griffon Vulture V . Increasing number of

records (up to 3 individuals on a dead antelope) during the dry season,

north of 9%, of this mainly sahelian vulture.

Gyps africanus White-backed Vulture R B . The commonest vulture of

the northern savannas (nearly all north of 8%, and mostly concentrated

in Comoé) . Occasional sightings south to Lamto. Frequently more than 100

around a carcass. Marked decrease in the wet season.

Necrosyrtes monachus Hooded Vulture R B . Formerly common in all the

towns of the guinean zone, from Toumodi northwards. Has now been much

reduced, mainly in the Baoulé country, more because it is hunted for food

than because of an improved sanitation.

Gypohierax angolensis Palm-nut Vulture R B . Common throughout the

forest zone. Reaches 10*^ along gallery forests in savanna woodland. Not

favoured by extensive industrial oil-palm plantations where it rarely

feeds .

Circus mac r our us Pallid Harrier PM. By far the rarest harrier (no

more than 20 records, all north of 8*^1, Dec to Mar) . Prefers the driest

and most open savannas.

Circus pygargus Montagu's Harrier P M . Quite common (daily sightings)

dry season visitor all over the guinean savannas, south to Lamto (Nov to

Apr) .

Circus aeruginosus M.arsh Harrier P M . Common and v/idespread durinrf

the dry season over marshes, r icefields and humid grasslands throughout

the country (even on montane grassland of Mt Nimba, Brosset) . Many

immature birds reimain during the wet season.

Polyboroides typus Harrier Hawk R B . One of the commonest raptor

throughout the forest zone (up to Odienné and Ferkessédougou along gallery

forest) . Reaches its highest density in the Borassus Palm, southern guinean

savanna .

13

Terathopius ecaudatus Bateleur R B , Now uncxamion over most of the

northern savannas, except the hills near Boundiali and mainly the Comoé

where it is rather abundant. Reaches its southern limit in the Maraoud. A

marked decrease (30% ?) in July-Sep) may indicate a northward movement.

Circaetus (gallicus ) beaudouini Beaudouin's Snake Eagle P M B . A dry

season visitor, uncommon but widespread over all the savannas (from Lamto

northwards) but apparently breeding only north of 8*^ and absent from June

to Sep. May also breed in montane grassland of Mt Nimba (guinean side,

Brosset) . An unusual observation near Sassandra (Feb, Maliverney) . The

European Short-toed Eagle, Circaetus g. gallicus, has never been definitely

identified in Ivory Coast.

Circaetus cinereus Brown Snake Eagle R and A M B . Widespread over

the northern savannas, down to Maraoué and Lamto. Much rarer from June to

Oct and only found north of 9%.

Circaetus cinerascens Smaller Banded Snake Eagle R B . Uncommon in

well wooded, mainly northern guinean savanna and gallery forests along

water courses between 8 and ICPn (breeding zone, dry season). Expanding

range during the rainy season v\iiere it is more frequent from Bouaké to

Lamto (June-Sep) than at the other months.

Drgotriorchis spectabilis Congo Serpent Eagle R B . A primary forest

raptor, rarely entering secondary growth and not so far recorded outside

the most humid southwestern part of the forest zone (Abidjan, Sassandra,

Ta'i and Nimba to Man, Gagnoa and Daloa) . One of the most threatened

species by the intense forest exploitation.

Accipiter melanoleucus Black SparrovÆiawk R B . The rarest forest

Accipiter , known from Grand Lahou and San Pedro to Nimba, Lamto and

Maraoué. Recently discovered (nest with young, Dec, Ledant) in the Comoé.

Prefers high dense forest, but also seen in large trees dominating secondary

growth or plantations.

Accipiter tachiro macroscelides African Goshav^ R B . Common through-

out the forest zone including subnontane forest (Nimba) , high mangrove

(Azagny) and gallery forest (Comoé) . Readily encountered in both primary

and secondary forests and even in adjoining plantations or well wcoded

savannas. Its heavy rufous pigmentation of underparts, typical of a zone

of allopatry with the Chestnut-flanked Goshay<, may lead to confusion with

Accipiter castanilius vÆiich has never been definitely identified in Ivory

Coast. Its characteristic call, vhen flying over the forest in early

morning, differentiates it (may be up to the species level) from A.

toussenelii of Gabon and Southern Cameroun vhere this call has never been

heard, (Brosset, Chappuis and pers. obs.),

Accipiter ergthropus (minullus ) West African Little Sparrovhav\^ R B .

Nearly as widespread as the above species (Coast to Comoé) and hardly less

abundant in primary as well as secondary forests and galleries.

Accipiter badius Shikra A M B . Common dry season breeder all over

the well wooded guinea savanna south to Lamto. Very few individuals

remain between mid- June and early Sep, most of them in the north.

Accipiter ovampensis Ovairpo Sparrovhav^ A M . Uncommon wet season

visitor, breeding south of the equator. Ten records in savanna, from 13

June to 5 Oct, from Lamto to Comoé and Boundiali.

14

Melierax metabates Chanting Gosha^c R B . Widespread and sedentary-

in northern guinea and subsudan savanna. Reaches its sou-tdiern limit in

the Maraoué. Also collected near Abidjan 70 years ago (BMH) .

Melierax ( Micronisus ) gabar Gabar Goshawk A M (R B ?) . Uncommon Nov-

May north of 8*^30 (25 records), rarely sou-th to Bouake (2) and even Lamto

(1 , Feb) . Many fewer in June-Sep (5, Comoé, Ferkessédougou) . 9% are blade

phase .

Urotriorchis macrourus long-tailed Hav^ R B . Widespread all over

the forest zone from Ayamé, Abidjan, Tai and Niinba to Lam-to and Maraoué.

Mostly restricted to prhnary or high secondary forest.

Kaupifalco monogrammicus Lizard Buzzard R B . The commonest resident

raptor over all tlie savannas, decreasing north of 8*^, and now entering

large forest clearings down to Tai and Abidjan.

Buteo buteo Common or Steppe Buzzard PM. A local wintering migrant

in small numbers from Nov to Apr in natural guinea savanna (Lamto, Maraoué

and Comoé) .

Buteo auguralis Red-tailed Buzzard A M B . A common dry season breeder

in the large clearings of all the forest zone, and to a lesser extent in

the well wooded northern guinea savanna, but surprisingly scarce in the

intervening southern guinea savanna (such as from Lamto to Bouaké) .

Disappears from May (in the south) or mid- June (in the nor-th) to Sep (except

1 July record in Comoé) .

Butastur rufipennis Grasshopper Buzzard A M . Common non-breeding

visi-bor from Nov to Apr (max. in Jan, departures from mid-Mar onwards) in all

savannas nor-th of the forest. Very partial to recently burnt areas.

Formerly reached the coastal savannas.

Lophaetus occipitalis Long-crested Eagle R B . Widespread, but not

numerous over all the savanna zone. Has extended its range in the large

clearings of the forest zone where it formerly occurred mainly in the

coastal savannas.

Stephanoetus coronatus Crowned Eagle R B . Up to the 1960s occurred

throughout the forest zone, even in logged forests, from the coast to

Comoé. Now much rarer after its main food has almost disappeared through

a dramatic hunting pressure.

Polemaetus bellicosus Martial Eagle R B . Scattered pairs in undis-

turbed savannas nor-th of 8*^ (mainly Comoé, also Boundiali and one pair in

Maraoué) . Rare immature vagrants south to Toumod.i and Lam-to during -the

dry season.

Spizaetus ( Cassinaetus ) africanus Cassin's Hawk Eagle R B . Much

more frequent than usually supposed in the literature. Probably throughout

-the forest zone. Known from San Pedro to Grand Lahou and Aboisso to Nimba,

Divo, Lam-to, Maraoué and Agnibilekrou) . Readily survives in secondary

forest and even plantations vhere a fair number of large trees have been

left.

15

Hieraaetus dubius (ayresi) Ayres' Hawk Eagle R B . Very local in the

northern semideciduous part of the forest (Man, Daloa, Abengourou, N'Douci) .

More partial to large gallery forest in well wooded savanna (Lamto, Maraoué,

Comoé) . Extreme localities: Boundiali and Dabou.

Hieraaetus ( fasciatus ) spilogaster African Hawk Eagle R B . A very

small population in and around Comoé and from Katiola to Ferkessédougou and

Boundiali.

Hieraaetus pennatus Booted Eagle P M . Much coinmoner in West Africa

than was formerly thought, but its main distribution lies in the Sudan

zone (Thiollay 1977). Isolated birds identified in most savanna areas

(Lamto, Sipilou and Bouaké to Comoé, Korhogo and Odienné) from Dec to Apr

and July record.

Aquila rapax Tawny Eagle A M and R B ? Small numbers throughout the

savanna zone (from Lamto and Maroue northward) during the dry season. A

few individuals remain between June and Oct in the north (Comoé to Boundiali) .

Seems to have much decreased since the late 1960s.

Aquila wahlbergi Wahlberg's Eagle A M . Coinmoner and more widely

distributed than A. rapax, from Lamto to Comoé and Odienné. Usually daily

sightings in any natural savanna during the dry season. No records from

July to Sep.

Haliaetus vocifer African Fish Eagle R B . More than 12 breeding pairs

in Comoe. Now rare or absent elsev^here even along the large rivers and

lakes with forested banks. Known to be abundant on the coastal lagoons at

the beginning of the century, it is now almost extinct (solitary birds

recently recorded from Ayamé, Azagny, Fresco and San Pedro) . Hunting and

overfishing may be involved in this decline.

Milvus migrans Black Kite A M B and P M . The commonest raptor during

the dry season in every open habitat throughout the country. Everywhere

more than 90% of Kites belong to the African race parasiticus v\hich breeds

from Jan to May, but European birds {Milvus m. migrans) have been identified

in more than 20 localities, including 4 recoveries from Switzerland, France

and Spain. They leave from Apr to June and re-invade Ivory Coast from Sep

to Nov. Exceptional sightings in July-Aug.

Pernis apivorus Honey Buzzard P M . Common throughout the forest zone

from the coast to Comoé (Sep to May) . Often seen in June-Aug. 3

recoveries (from Germany and Sweden) .

Aviceda cuculoides African Cuckoo Falcon R B . Rather common all over

the forest zone, even in secondary forest. Rapidly decreases north of 8%,

but follows the main gallery forest up to 10°N, readily foraging in savanna

woodland.

Elanus caeruleus Black-shouldered Kite R B . Common everywhere on

cultivated lands, large clearings and similar degraded habitats, but rare

in natural savanna.

Chelictinia (Elanus) riocourii Swallow-tailed Kite V . Seen only once:

Comoé, Feb (Fgu Kronberg) . One doubtful mention near Abidjan in Snow's

atlas. The normal southern limit of its dry season range is Banfora, just

north of the Upper Volta border.

16

Mâche irhamphus alcinus Bat Hawk R B . Secretive but widely distributed

from the south (Abidjan, Tai, Nimba) to the north (Korhogo, Comoé) . Forest

clearings, savanna woodlands and towns or villages with big trees.

Pandion haliaetus Osprey P M . Conmon all over the coastal waters and

inland lakes or large rivers. Many birds remain from June to Aug. 2

recoveries from Finland.

FALCONIDAE

Falco biarmicus banner Falcon R B . A breeding pair in nearly every

town or large village with big trees throughout the northern savanna (from

Bouaké and Beoumi northwards) . Has recently increased southward and is now

breeding in Toumodi, Lamto, N'Douci and maybe near Abidjan.

Falco peregrinus Peregrine Falcon R B and PM. A dozen pairs of the

African F. p. minor are known (probably breeding) from the few cliffs

available in northern (Niangbo, Korhogo, Boundiali) and western (Man, Nimba)

Ivory Coast. The Palearctic F. p. calidus has been seen 11 times around

coastal lagoons (Abidjan, Azagny, San Pedro) and inland lakes (Taabo,

Kossou) from Nov to Apr.

Falco cuvieri African Hobby R B . Fairly common in the Borassus Palm

savanna of Lamto (and formerly Dabou) . Decreases north of 7*^30 as palms

disappear and savanna becomes drier to concentrate only around gallery forest

(Comoé) and sacred woods (Korhogo) .

Falco subbuteo European Hobby P M . The scanty records (22 from Sep to

May) suggest a very small wintering population in the forest clearings and

gallery forest-savanna mosaic (Abidjan to Lamto and Beoumi) with more

northern records (Comoé, Korhogo) attributable to spring passage migrants.

Falco chicquera Red-necked Falcon R B ? Known only from 3 localities

between Korhogo and Tingrela.

Falco ardosiaceus Grey Kestrel Isolated pairs found everyvÆiere in open

savannas, large clearings and farmlands.

Falco vespertinus Red-footed Falcon P M . Rare. Only on spring

passage. 6 records of 2 to 10 birds from Lamto to Korhogo (Feb-Apr) .

Falco naumanni Lesser Kestrel P M . Scattered dry season records of 1

to 9 birds from Abidjan (BMH and recently Demey) to Lamto-Toumodi (6 times)

and Korhogo, except on the bare later itic plains of Comoé where 20 to 60

birds often concentrate in Jan-Apr.

Falco tinnunculus Common Kestrel P M A M R B ? Quite coirmon Palearctic

migrants (f. t. tinnunculus) found throughout the country, greatly outnumber

the African race (F. t. rufescens) only seen from Comoé to the Korhogo-

Boundiali area where it might breed. Only 2 dates between June and Sep.

Falco alopex Fox Kestrel AM. A mere 21 dry season sightings north

of S^N (plus one at Lamto) and none from June to Oct. Some were seen

around inselbergs (Korhogo, Niangbo) where they could breed.

17

SAGITTARIIDAE

Sagittarius serpentarius Secretary Bird A M . Only a dry season

visitor to the open plains of Conoé (none from June to Oct) . Probably no

more than 10 individuals. No indication of breeding.

PHASIANIDAE

Francolinus ahantensis Ahanta Francolin R B . Mainly secondary growth

of clearings throughout the forest zone, and forest edges on its northern

border (Sipilou, Lamto, Bouaké, Comoé) .

Francolinus bicalcaratus IDouble-spurred Francolin R B . Abundant

throughout the savannas, even coastal farmlands.

Francolinus albogularis White-throated Francolin R B . Very local in

dense savanna. 7 known localities from Lamto to Ferkessédougou .

Francolinus lathami Latham's Francolin R B . The only forest francolin,

common throughout the forest zone and northern galleries (to Sipilou and

Comoé) .

Coturnix coturnix Common Quail P M . Formerly rather common from Dabou

to Korhogo (BMH) . Now rare in Dec-Mar, from Lamto to Comoé.

Coturnix delegorguei Harlequin Quail A M . Rare dry season visitor, in

more wooded savannas than other quails. 5 records from Lamto to

Ferkessédouaou .

Coturnix chinensis (Excalf actoria ad an son i ) Blue Quail R (?) B . The

only common quail in every savanna, from Dabou to 10*^, mostly Nov to May.

Few records during the rainy season. Favours humid grasslands in the

north.

Ptilopachus petrosus Stone Partridge R B . Common in northern savannas,

south to Dabakala, not only near rocks (granite or ironstones) but also in

flat densely wooded savanna. Much more often heard than seen.

Agelastes meleagrides l'Æiite-breasted Cuineafowl R B . One of the

most endangered birds in West Africa. Never seen outside high dense

primary forest. Only known from the southwestern part of the forest zone,

north to Duékué, Daloa, Oumé and east to Guitri-Grand Lahou. May be

restricted now to Tai (hunting pressure and habitat destruction) . A typical

endemic of the so-called Sassandra refuge.

Guttera edouartdi Crested Cuineafowl R B . Formerly common throughout

the forest zone (mainly edges, secondary and gallery forest) . Remains

abundant (flocks of 6 yo 30 birds) in all the national parks, including on

islands within the paljrr-swanp of Azagny.

Numida meleagris Helmeted Cuineafowl R B . Much more sensitive to

hunting pressure than the Francolins. Formerly common in all the savannas,

including coastal. Now restricted to the northern ones and becoming rare

outside protected areas (flocks of up to 100 birds in Comoé).

18

RALLIDAE

Himantornis haematopus Nkulengu Rail R B . Its characteristic pre-dawn

call is frequently heard throughout the dense primary or old secondary forest

from Abidjan and Tai to Nimba and Comoé.

Canirallus oculeus Grey-throated Rail R B . Rare (or overlooked ?) .

Azagny and Tai to Maraoué. More swairpy forest than Himantornis.

Crex crex Com Crake P M . One definite record (Lamto, Sep) .

Crex (Crecopsis ) egregia African Crake A M - B . Common from Oct to

May in central and southern guinea zones, entering second growth of forest

clearings and coastal grasslands. North of 9%, it is rare during the dry

season but increases and remains throuah the wet months.

Porzana porzana Spotted Crake P M . One good sighting in a swanp near

Abidjan (Apr, Chairproux) .

Porzana parva P M . One identified in humid secondary grassland near

Abidjan (june, Vogel) .

Porzana m.arginalis Striped Crake A M ? B ? One certain and 2 possible

records in swamps around Korhogo (Mar to Jul) .

Limnocorax (Amaurornis ) flavirostris Black Crake R B . TTsually

abundant in all swairps from the coast to the north.

Sarothrura pulchra VIhite-spotted Flufftail PB. By far the most

widely distributed small forest crake (or song best known ?) Often heard

(and tape recorded by Chappuis) from Abidjan to Ta'i, Nimba and Comoé.

Sarothrura elegans Buff-spotted Flufftail R B ? Only identified in

second growth near Tai.

Sarothrura rufa Red-chested Flufftail R B ? Probably marshes near

Dabou, but awaits confirmation.

Gallinula angulata Lesser itoorhen R B ? Widespread in swarrps from

Abidjan and Azagny to Ferkessédouaou . Apparent seasonal movements but

does not seem to disappear at anytime.

Gallinula chloropus f'Oorhen R B . As widespread as G. angulata but

less abundant, more local and more sedentary.

GRUIDAE

Balearica pavonina Crowned Crane V ? B ? Only seen (Feb-Mar) in Comoé.

Also cited from. Odienné (Bouet) . A captive bird at Korhogo said to have

been taken unfledged in the area. Rare.

Porphyrio porphyrio Purple Gallinule R B . Abundant in the few

reedbeds remaining along the coast (Grand Bassam to Azagny and San Pedro)

and inland (Bouaké to Korhogo) .

Porphyrio alleni Allen's Gallinule R B . Common in the northern swamps

with floating vegetation (Bouaké to Korhogo) where it breeds during the wet

season. Increases in the dry season on coastal marshes.

19

HELIORNITHIDAE

Podica senegalensis African Finfoot R B . Widespread along vxDOded

banks of all rivers and lagoons (from the coast to Comoé) .

OTIDIDAE

Eupodotis senegalensis lA/hite-bellied Bustard R B . Seems to be much

rarer today in guinea savannas (from Toumodi to Gomoé and Tingrela) than

supposed from earlier accounts (Bouet, Bannerman) . May be absent from

large areas.

Eupodotis melanogaster Black-bellied Bustard R B . The only common

bustard in Ivory Coast throughout the savanna zone north of the forest

(from Larato and Sipilou) . Decreases north of 9°30.

Neotis denhami Denham's Bustard A M B . Dry season migrant, today

well represented only in Comoé, but formerly more widespread and entering

southern guinea savanna (Bf®) . Spectacular nuptial display in Feb-Mar.

Otis arabs Sudan Bustard V . Identified a single time (Mar, Comoé) .

One old record from Bœumi (Lowe) of this sahelian bird, viiich has much

decreased during the last 20 years in West Africa.

JACANIDAE

Actophilornis africana African Jacana R B . Abundant on all suitable

swarrps throughout the country. Huge concentrations of maybe more than

1,000 near Ferkessédougou in the dry season.

Microparra capensis Lesser Jacana R B ? Recognized several times

(Mar to July) near Abidjan (Chairproux) and Bouaké (Ledant) .

BURHINIDAE

Burhinus (Oedicnemus ) senegalensis Senegal Thick-Knee A M B , Abundant

from Nov to May throughout the savannas (including along the coast) . Very

local at night. Few birds remain during the rainy season and only north of

8%.

Burhinus (Oedinecmus) vermiculatus Water Thick-Knee R B , Restricted

to rocky and sandbanks of all the large rivers from estuaries to about

9®30 N. . North of the forest zone, it is increasingly replaced on rivers by

senegalensis (as far as field distinction is reliable!). Local novements

according to water level.

Burhinus (Oedicnemus ) capensis Spotted Thick-Knee R B ? So far

recorded from Nov to Mar north of 9°N (Comoé, Korhogo, Boundiali, Tingrela) .

HAEMATOPODIDAE

Haematopus ostralegus (^stercatcher PM. 4 dry season records near

Abidjan.

20

CHARADRIIDAE

Vanellus ( Xiphidiopterus ) albiceps Black-shouldered Wattled Plover R or

A M B ? Coimnon all along the major rivers on rocks and sand banks.

Usually disappear with rising water levels between June and Oct.

Vanellus ( Hoplopterus ) spinosus Spur-winged Plover R B ? Not rare,

but local on some coastal marshes (Azagny) , lakes (Kossou) , rivers (Comoé)

and r icefields (Ferkessédougou) .

Vanellus (Sarciophorus ) tectus Black-headed Plover V . Rare dry

season vagrant in the extreme north (Comoé, Quango lodougou) .

Vanellus (Afribyx) senegalus Senegal Wattled Plover A M B . Widely

distributed on recently burnt guinea savannas from Dec to Apr (breeds) .

Present all the year on some permanent marshes (Korhogo) and lakes (Kossou) .

Vanellus ( Stephan ibyx ) lugubris Seneaal Plover R B . Very local in

the forest zone (mainly south of 7%) in secondary grasslands. Tjocal

movements. Nests found near Abidjan (Apr) . Seen in most months (only

during the early rains in Lamto) .

Pluvialis squatarola Crey Plover P M . Regular along the coast (small

groups, Nov to June) . Rare inland (Kossou, Ledant) .

Char adr lus hiaticula Ringed Plover P M . Common along the coast (Sep

to May) . Occasionally inland (Taabo to Korhogo) .

Charadrius dubius Little Ringed Plover P M . Less numerous than

hiaticula, but more often on inland waters (Abidjan to Comoé) .

Charadrius alexandrinus Kentish Plover P M . 5 records around Abidjan

(Dec to Mar) .

Charadrius marginatus White-fronted Sandplover R B ? 6 records on

lakes (Bouaké, Kossou) and rivers (Lamto, Comoé) in the dry season,

except one near Grand Lahou (June) .

Charadrius pecuarius Kittlitz's Sandplover V . Diry season vagrant along

northern rivers (Comoé) and drying r icefields (Korhogo) .

Charadrius forbesi Forbes' Banded Plover R B . Breeds during the rains

north of 8^ on lateritic plateaus and large inselbergs. Widely distributed

in the dry season on shortgrass, open habitats from the coast (Abidjan) to

Korhogo .

SCOLOPACIDAE

Numenius phaeopus Khimbrel P M . Common along the coast from Aug to

June.

Numenius arquata Curlew PM. 3 records (Abidjan, San Pedro) Jan-Feb.

Limosa limosa Black-tailed Godwit P M . Vagrant: Kossou and Korhogo

(Feb-Mar) .

Limosa lapponica Bar-tailed Godwit PM. 4 records (Abidjan, Azagny)

in Dec-Feb.

21

Tringa nebularia Greenshank P M . Coimron from the coast to northern

marshes, lakes and rivers, Sep to June.

Tringa stagnatilis Marsh Sandpiper P M . Frequent on coastal (Abidjan

to San Pedro) and inland (Lamto to Korhogo) marshes, Nov to May.

Tringa glareola Wood Sandpiper P M . Common along every still or

running waters. Some remain in July-Aug as do other Tringa.

Tringa ochroppus Green Sandpiper P M . Like T. glareola, tut more

often on forested river banks and very small pools.

Tringa hypoleucos Common Sandpiper P M . All along every river, in

all months, often in pairs.

Tringa totanus Redshank PM. On coastal lagoons, inland lakes and

northern ponds, Aug to Mar. Uncommon.

Tringa erythropus Spotted Redshank P M . 7 dry season records from

Abidjan to Taabo, Korhono and Comoé.

Tringa terek ( Xenus cinereus) Terek Sandpiper P V . 1 sightina

(Abidjan, Dec, Champroux) .

Arenaria interpres Turnstone P M . More than 20 records along the

coast, from 7Æ)idjan to San Pedro (Sept to Feb) .

Gal linage (Capella) media Great Snipe P M . Conmon around Korhocno,

rarer on coastal marshes.

Gallinago (Capella) gallinago Common Snipe P M . Commoner in coastal

swamps than inland (Toumodi, Bouaké, Korhogo) .

Gallinago ( Lymno crypte s ) minima Jack Snipe PM. 2 (Grand Bassam Feb,

and Bouaké Mar) .

Calidris canutus Knot PM. 5 records on the coast (Abidjan to San

Pedro, Nov to Mar) .

Calidris alpina EXmlin PM. 3 sightings (Abidjan, Dec-Feb) .

Calidris ferruginea Curlew Sandpiper P M . Rather common along the

coast (Abidjan to San Pedro, Sep to Mar) .

Calidris minuta Little Stint P M . The commonest Calidris, both on

coastal and inland waters (north to Korhogo) ; Sep to Apr.

Calidris temminckii Temminck's Stint PM. 5 records near Abidjan

and inland (Kossou, Bouaké) , Nov-Feb.

Calidris ( Crocethia) alba Sanderling P M . Abundant on sandy beaches

(Grand Bassam to San Pedro, Nov-Apr) .

Philomachus pugnax Ruff PM. 2 records from Abidjan (Dec-Jan) , 1 from

Kossou (Mar) and one Swedish recovery from Tingrela (May) .

Phalaropus fulicarius Grey Phalarope P M . Several at sea near

Abidjan, following Killer Whales (Feb) . 3 times on inland lake (Bouaké)

and river (Comoé, up to 3 together) . Jan to Mar.

22

RECURVIROSTRIDAE

Himantopus himantopus Black-winged Stilt P M (or AM ?) . Often seen on

both coastal lagoons (Grand Bassam to San Pedro) and inland lakes (Taabo to

Ferkessédougou and Comoé) . Flocks of 2 to 18 birds. Nov to May.

ROSTRATULIDAE

Rostratula benghalensis Painted Snipe R B ? Common and breeding in

Korhogo marshes Mar-Aug. Decreases there in other months to appear on

southern swamps (Comoé, Bouaké, Toumodi) . One sight ina near Abidjan (June,

Champroux) .

GLARFOLIDAF

Pluvianus aegyptius Fgyptian Plover R B ? Upper course of the river

Comoé, formerly down to the coast (BMH) . Not seen June-Oct.

Cursorius temminckii Temminck's Courser A M . Dry season visitor

north of 8*^, rarely south to Lamto. Partial to recently burnt savannas.

Cursorius ( Rhinoptilus ) chalcopterus Bronze-winged Courser A M B ? Much

more frequent than C. temminckii , south to Bouake and rarely Toumodi. Nov

to May only, often at night on the roads.

Glareola pratincola Common Pratincole A (or P ?) M . Recfular around

Bouake (Jan-Apr) but surprisingly not yet seen elseviiere except Abidjan

(Jan, Voqel) .

Glareola nuchalis Rock Pratincola P (?) B . Common on the large rivers

of all the forest zone. Bree^ds on bare rocks (dry season) and almost

disappears alonq with their specialized habitat submerged by rising waters

from June to Oct.

LARIDAE

Stercorarius pomarinus Pomarine Skua P V . At sea, Nov to Mar. Not

rare.

Stercorarius parasiticus Amrctic Skua P V . Coimmoner than S. pomarinus.

Stercorarius skua Great Skua P V . One recovery (Assini, June) of a

bird ringed in Scotland.

Larus ridibundus Black-headed Gull P V . 3 records near Abidjan

(Dec-Feb) . Several others, unconfirmed because of possible confusion with

the next species.

Larus cirrocephalus Grey-headed Gull A V . 2 records near Abidjan (Nov-

Feb) .

Larus (Xema) sabini Sabine's Gull P M . Abundant offshore, at least in

Feb-Mar. Also seen near the coast (Ledant) .

Larus fuscus Lesser Black-backed Gull P M (and L. dominicanus ?) Seen

4 times on the coast (sea and laqoon, Abidjan to Azagny, Nov-Mar, all

immatures) and once inland (Kossou) .

23

Sterna ( Gelochelidon ) nilotica Gull-billed Tern P V . Grand Bassam,

Nov; Kossou, Feb. Rare.

Sterna ( Hydroprogne ) caspia Gaspian Tern P M . Gonnmon all alona the

coast. Some remain in summer. One recovery from Finland.

Sterna maxima Royal Tem A M . Very common along the coast, many

remaining in June-Aug.

Sterna sandvicensis Sandwich Tem P M . Abundant on all coastal

lagoons and beaches. Hundreds remain in summer months. Large numbers are

killed for food or fun (with other terns) giving numerous recoveries from

Great Britain (51), Ireland (9), Germany (Î0) , France (6), Holland (3),

Sweden (2), Denmark (2), Belgiim (2), USSR (1).

sterna hirundo Common Tem P M . Less abundant than the previous 2

species but equally widespread. 29 recoveries from Sweden, Norway, Finland,

Denmark, Holland, Geirmany, Belgium, Great Britain, France, Spain and Italy.

Sterna dougalii Roseate Tem P M . Several identifications confirmed

by 3 recoveries from Great Britain and Ireland.

Sterna paradisea Arctic Tem P M . Few definite visual records, but 6

recoveries from Great Britain,

Sterna fuscata Sooty Tem A V . At least 3 observations offshore. One

specimen collected near Abidjan (Intes) .

Sterna albifrons Little Tem P (and A ?) M . Uncommon. More often

seen on coastal waters (Assini to Grand Lahou) than inland lakes (Taabo,

Kossou) . African race guineae possible, but European migrants confirmed

by 2 recoveries (France, Italy) .

Sterna (Chlidonias ) hybrida Lliiskered Tem P M . The least common of

the 3 Chlidonias. Only seen 6 times on coastal lagoons.

Sterna (Chlidonias ) leucoptera tThite-winged Tem P M . Not uncommon

in small numbers from coastal lagoons to Kossou (Nov to Mar) .

sterna (Chlidonias) nigra Black Tem P M . The most abundant tern

along the entire coastline and lagoons. Sometimes several hundreds can be

seen together. Many remain in June-Aug. Rare on inland lakes (Taabo,

Kossou) ,

Rynchops flavirostris African Skimmer A V . Occasional (4 records, up

to 7 birds together) on coastal waters (Ayamé to Azagny, July to Dec) .

PTEROCLIDIDAE

Pterocles quadricinctus Four-banded Sandgrouse A M B . Widespread in

savannas north of 8°N from Nov to May.

TURNICIDAi:

Turnix sylvatica Button Quail R B Coinnon in coastal and derived

savannas. Local north of the forest zone (reaches Comoë) .

24

Turnix hottentotta ( nana ) Black-ruinped Button Quail R B . Rarer and

more local than sylvatica. Shorter grass and more humid grasslands.

Reported only from Grand Bassam to Grand Lahou.

Ortyxelos meiffrenii Lark Quail V . Snow mentions an old record from

Grand Bassam. The species has not been identified in recent times.

COLIMBIDAE

Columba guinea Speckled Pigeon R B . Local only north of 9°30 (south

to Kong, Bouet) .

Columba unicincta African Wood Pigeon R B . High rain forest from

Abidjan to Tal, Nimba, Sipilou and Lamto.

Columba malherbii ( Turturoena iriditorques ) Bronze-naped Pigeon R B .

Also typical of the canopy of high dense forest, hut extends north to

Bouaké and Comoé.

Streptopelia semitorquata Red-eyed Etove R B . Abundant in all humid

savannas and farmlands. Decreases north of 8°N and becomes more and more

local north of 9'%f (around forests) .

streptopelia vinacea Vinaceous Dove R B . An abundant savanna species

of northern guinea and sudan zones. South to Bouaké.

Streptopelia senegalensis Laughing Dove R B . Common in every town

and surroundina farmlands.

Oena capensis Masked Dove AM? Uncommon. Today more frequent in

northern savannas, than in the 19G0s and early 1970s, south to Bouaké.

So far recorded only in the dry season but may happen to breed.

Turtur (Tympanistria ) tympanistria Tambourine Dove R B . Comnon

throughout the forest zone. Enters the aallery forests north to Korhogo

and Comoé.

Turtur afer Blue-spotted Wood Dove R B . Common. Secondary forest,

humid savanna woodleinds, farmlands and gallery forests. Progressively

replaced by T. abyssinicus north of 8*^, but reaches the northern border in

small woods.

Turtur abyssinicus Black-billed Wood Dove R B . Increasingly common

from 8°30 northwards in wooded savanna.

Turtur brehmeri ( Calophelia puella) Blue-headed Wood Dove R B . Wide-

spread in forest undergrowth from Abidjan to Nimba and Comoé.

Aplopelia larvata Lemon Dove Known from the Guinean (Brosset and

Liberian (FT^) sides of Mt Nimba. May occur on the eastern slopes.

Treron calva African Green Pigeon R B . Abundant all over the forest

zone up to extreme northern galleries.

Treron waalia Yellow-bellied Green Pigeon R B . Subsudanian savanna

woodlands and small forests, south to 9Ôn. Moderately common.

25

PSITTACIDAE

Poicephalus robustus Brown-necked Parrot R B . Mainly restricted to

Borassus Palm southern Guinea savanna, from Sipilou to Lamto and Bougouanou

(formerly Dabou) . Scarce in northern savannas (Comoé) .

Poicephalus gulielmi Red-crowned Parrot R B . Rare and local in

primary forest (Tai, Tiassale, Oumé) .

Poicephalus senegalus Senegal Parrot R B . Common in all types of

savannas (South to Abidjan) .

Psitt acus erithacus P^^^t R B . Common throughout the forest

zone, but only south of 8^. There is no gap between the 2 subspecies

erithacus and timneh supposed to come in contact alona the Bandama river.

Psittacula krameri Rose-winged Parakeet R B . Increasingly common

north of 9^. Rarely reaches Bouake and even Toumodi. A well knovTi

population in 7\bid j an-Grand Bassam may be introduced or relict.

Agapornis pullaria Red-headed Lovebird R B ? Only known from the

Boundiali-Tincrrela area (Ledant) .

Agapornis swinderniana Black-co Hared Lovebird R B ? Seen twice in

Tai. May also be on Nimba.

MNSOPHACIDAE

Corythaeola cristata Great Blue Turaco R B . Formerly common all over

the forest zone, north to Odiennd, Korhogo and Comoé. Now much reduced by

intensive huntina pressure.

Crinifer piscator Grey Turaco R B . Common savanna species throuahout,

including dry secondary nrowth on sandy coastal dunes.

Tauraco (Turacus) per sa Guinea Turaco R B . Common in every dense

forests and aalleries north to 10^. Respective ranaes of races per sa and

buffoni (Bannerman) not defincîd.

Tauraco (Turacus) macrorhgnchus Verreaux's Turaco R B . Widespread

(Tai and Abidjan to Nimba, Sipilou, Lam±o and Comoe) , but more local than

T. persa.

Musophaga violacea Violet Turaco R B . Northern edae of the forest

zone (I,amto, Sipilou, Agnibilekrou) through the gallery forests of all

northern Ivory Coast. Collected in the coastal belt (BMH) .

aJCUT.IDAE

Clamator glandarius Great Spotted Cuckoo A (or P ?) M B . Restricted

to the northern savannas in the 1960-70s. Now frequent south to Lamto. So o

far not recorded in the rainy season.

Clamator jacobinus Pied Crested Cuckoo A V ? 3 records Feb-Apr,

M'Bingue and Comoé.

26

ClamatoT levaillantii Striped Cuckoo A M (or R ?) B . Coinmonly occurs

throughout the country in all months. The savanna population seems to

fluctuate more (peak in dry season) than the less abundant but widespread

forest population (secondary growth, edges, galleries).

Cuculus solitarius Red-chested Cuckoo R B . A common song in most

forest from the coast to Korhogo and Comoé.

Cuculus clamosus Black Cuckoo R or A M ? B ? As widespread as

solitarius. The forest population (C. c. gabonensis ?) appears more

sedentary than the smaller population {clamosus ?) of Guinea galleries

(north of 8°N) only seen between June and Oct.

Cuculus fcanorus) gularis Grey Cuckoo A M B ? Common throughout the

savannas (from Lamto northwards) in the dry season (Oct-June) . Rarely

sings and may not breed there.

Cuculus (canorus) canorus Common Cuckoo P M . Presence of the European

migrant documented by a specimen (Lamto, Feb) .

Pachycoccyx audeberti (validis) Thick-billed Cuckoo R B . Not imcommon

in southern Guinea savanna (several pairs on the 2,700 ha reserve of Lambo) .

Also occurs south to Tai and north to Comoé, mainly on forest edges.

Cercococcyx mechowi Dusky long-tailed Qickoo R B . Scarce. Slirrhtly

more widespread than olivinus (TaT, Nimba to Azaony and Lamto) .

Cercococcyx olivinius Olive Long-tailed Qickoo R B . Rare. Primary

forest of Tai and Nimba.

Chrysococcyx flavigularis Yellow-throated Cuckoo R B . Identified

only in the southern primary forest (Ayamé to Abidjan and Tai) .

Chrysococcyx cupreus Emerald Cuckoo R B . Widely distributed in

every month through all the forest zone north to Korhogo. A young fed by

Muscicapa ussheri (July, Mt Tonkui) .

Chrysococcyx klaas Klaas' Cuckoo A M ? B . Everyviiere (coast to

Odienne and Comoe) in large clearings, forest edges, open woodlands and

gallery forests, mainly in the dry season (very few observations in June-

Sep, except north of 9*^) vÆien it could breed (songs) earlier than the

often sympatric caprius.

Chrysococcyx caprius Didric Cuckoo A M ? B . In less wooded habitats

than any other Chrysococcyx. Also more definitely migratory, leaving the

forest zone from June to Sep (only 2 records) , becoming at that time more

abundant north of 8°N and probably breeding (singing) .

Centropus leucogaster Black-throated Coucal R B . Rather comnon

throughout the forest, north to Odienné, Korhogo and Comoé.

Centropus monachus Blue-headed Coucal R B . Favours high grass of

humid or swampy areas. Status and distribution unperfectly known, due to

confusion with C. senegalensis. Both north and south of the country.

27

Centropus senegalensis Senegal Coucal R B . CommDn in all open grassy

habitats. Melanie fom "epomidis" seen in both north and south.

Centropus grillii Black Coucal R B . Locally in coastal as well as

northern high rank grass areas. Some seasonal movements (not clear).

Ceuthmochares aereus Yellowbill R B . Throughout the forest zone,

including northern galleries. Common.

STRIGIDAE

Tyto alba Bam Owl P B . Scattered pairs in many open habitats.

Often in towns (including Abidjan) but also natural savannas (I,amto, Comoe,

etc . ) .

Otus scops scops European Scops Owl P M . Specimens from Bouaké and

Lamto (Jan-Mar) .

Otus (scops) senegalensis African Scops Owl R B . Comrfon throughout

vxxxied arassy habitats, including some farmlands of the semi -deciduous

forest zone. Rare in coastal areas,

otus icterorhynchus Cinnamon Scops Owl R B . Tape recorded in Tai and

Nimba (Chappuis) .

otus leucotis T'Jhite-faced Owl R B . Widely distributed throuah all

Guinea and Sudan savannas from Toumodi northwards. Often ocairs in town

parks and crardens. 7\n unexpected siahtina in a coastal inundated savanna

(Azagny, June) .

Jubula (Lophostrix ) lettii Maned Owl R B . So far only known from Ta'i.

Suspected at Lamto (Chappuis) .

Bubo africanus Spotted Eaale CK*/! R B . The common eagle owl over all

the savannas north of the forest (includina Lamto) . Seen only one time

near the coast (Dabou) .

Bubo poensis Fraser's Eagle Owl R B . Widespread primary and even

secondary forest owl (Abidjan to Tai, Nimba, Lamto and Maraoué) .

Bubo Shelley i Shelley's Eagle Owl R B . Collected and tape recorded

(Chappuis) in Tai and Nimba, High primary forest only. Probably rare.

Bubo lacteus Verreaux's Eagle Owl R B . Widespread in savanna wood-

lands and even in large trees of villages north of 8*^30.

Bubo leucostictus Akun Eagle Owl R B . The most common forest eagle

owl from Abidjan to Tai, Nimba and Maraoué.

Scotopelia peli Pel's Fishing Owl R B . Knov/n from no less than 19

localities from coastal lagoons (Dabou, Azagny) to medium size (Tai) and

larqe (Bandama, Comoé) forested rivers, north to at least 9^30.

Scotopelia ussheri Ussher's Fishing Owl R B . So far identified from

Tai, Azagny, Lamto and Nimba. The suspected existence of S. bouvieri ,

mainly from calls similar to records from Gabon (Lamto, Comoé) needs to be

substantiated by a specimen.

28

strix woodfordi African Wood CXvl R P . The commonest forest ovzl every-

where .

Glaucidium perlatum Pearl-spotted Owlet R B . Increasingly frequent

in northern savannas and suburban gardens, from Bouaké northwards.

Glaucidium capense etchecopari Barred Owlet R B . Discovered in Lamto,

this new subspecies (first thought to be a distinct species closer to

castaneum than capense) has been found in 17 dense primary or mainly

secondary forests south to Banco, Azagny and Tai, west to Nimba and north

to Maraoué and Comoé. Sometimes common (up to 3 different singers within a

5-600 m radius) .

Glaucidium tephronotum Yellow-legged Owlet R B . Recorded from Tai.

Cited from the Liberian side of Mt Nimba (FW) .

CAPRIMUI.GIDAE

Caprimulgus binotatus or C. pectoralis Brown or Dusky Nightjar Dark

nightjars have been seen several times on tracks within dense rain forest,

but none has ever been collected. They may eventually prove to he one of

the above species.

Caprimulgus ruficollis Red-necked Nightjar P M . Collected near Katiola

(Jan, Parelius) and Boundiali (Nov, Ledant) .

Caprimulgus europaeus FXiropean Nightjar P M . Collected near Forhogo

(Feb) .

Caprimulgus natalensis Natal Nightjar R B ? 4 records (2 roadkills)

in central (Toumodi, N'Douci) and southern (Dabou, Grand Lahou) humid

grasslands .

Caprimulgus inornatus Plain Nightjar A M . Widespread dry season (Nov-

May) visitor in all savannas (from Korhoao to the coast). Ptostly c. i.

inornatus f but C. i. vinaceabrunneus has also been found (Lamto, M'Pingue) .

Caprimulgus tristigma Freckled Nightjar R ? B ? Common in northern

rocky areas (Niangbo, Comoé, Forhogo, Boundiali) .

Caprimulgus fossil Gaboon Niahtjar AM? Found dead in Comoé and

Forhogo (Feb-Apr: the only West African records) .

Caprimulgus ( Scotornis ) climacurus Long-tailed Nightjar A M B . Very

abundant throuahout the savannas. South of 7^] they are found from Nov to

May and do not seem to breed, but north of 8*^ very small numbers remain

betv.'een June and Oct and may breed (enlarged ovaries in Mar-May) .

Macrodiptergx longipennis Standard-winged Niahtjar A M. B . Less

abundant than C. climacurus but similarly widespread from the coast to

10^ outside the forest and disappears between June and Oct. Breeds

everyv^ere Jan-Mar (several nests found) .

APODIDAE

Apus apus European Swift P M . Abundant everywhere (including top of

Mt Nimba) from Sep to May. 12 records in June to Aua.

29

Apus melba Alpine Swift P . Several records (flocks of 5 to 40) in

Oct, Dec, Mar and Apr (Nimba to Lamto and Conoe) .

Apus aequatorialis Mottled Swift A V ? Most certainly identified at

Nimba (Apr) and Comoe (July) , Other possible sightings*

Apus caffer African I*tiite-runped Swift R B ? Few scattered records

(Bouake , Korhogo , Feb-June) . May be overlooked anong other swifts .

Apus af finis Little Swift R B . Large breeding colonies in every

town and under large bridges.

Apus bates! Black Swift R B ? Identified several times above the

primary forest of Tai and Nimba, but a specimen would bring nore certainty

about its actual identity.

Cypsiurus parvus African Palm Swift R B . Comron wherever there are

Borassus or Coconut pallia.

Chaetura sabini Sabine's Spinetail R B . The most frequent forest

Chaetura: Ayané to San Pedro, Man, Sipilou and Daloa.

Chaetura ussheri ^tottled Spinetail R B . Common in Borassus Palm

savanna (including along the coast) . Only scattered pairs in palmless

northern Guinea zone (north to Ferkessedougou) ,

Chaetura melanopygia Black Spinetail Identified at least from Fresco,

Tai, Nimba, Tiassale, Oumé. Uncommon. Mainly, if not only, above prim.ary

forest.

Chaetura cassini Cassin's Spinetail R B . 31 records from Ayame to

Tai north to Damané, Diiékué, Oumé, Dimbokro.

TROGCMIDAE

Apaloderma narina Narina Trogon R B . Well distributed over all the

forest zone, north to Korhogo and Comoé.

ALCFDINIDAE

Ceryle maxima Giant Kingfisher R B . Isolated pairs all along the

large rivers, lagoons and even lakes.

Ceryle rudis Pied Kingfisher R R . locally oorriTDn on some coastal

marshes and lagoons (Azagny, Assinie) and parts of northern rivers and

lakes (Korhogo, Comoé), but lacking in many apparently suitable areas.

Alcedo quadrlbrachys Shining Blue Kingfisher R B . Uncomron Ixit

widespread along the forested banks of all running or still, waters,

Alcedo (Corythornis ) cristate Malachite Kingfisher R B . Small water-

courses and ponds of coastal and northern areas but very local in all the

central part of Ivory Coast (lack of suitable habitat ?) .

Alcedo (Corythornis ) leucogaster I#iite-bellied Kingfisher R B .

Secretive. Taken in mist-nests from 11 primary or high secondary forests

(Lamto to Tai, Danané, Nimba and Daloa) .

30

Ispidina (Ceyx) pi eta Pygmy Kinafisher R R . The corrmonest forest

Kingfisher (from net-captures) throughout the forest zone^ north to 9^30 N.

Ispidina (Ceyx) lecontei Red-headed Dward Kingfisher R B . Quite rare

in mostly primary forest (Lamto, Gagnoa, Ta'i, Nimba) .

Halcyon senegalensis ^'Joodland (Senegal) Kinafisher R B . Common every-

where £ind all the year despite some seasonal fluctuations. From coastal

swamps and plantations to northern rivers and dry savannas. Darker

population in the south [H. s. fuscopileus) and paler north of 8^

{H. s. senegalensis) but with a wide zone of hybridization.

Halcyon malimbica Blue-breasted Kingfisher R B . Abundant in all the

forest zone, includina the most northern galleries.

Halcyon badia Chocolate-backed Kingfisher R B . Only found in heavy

forest from Ayame to Bondoukou, Lamto, Tai and Nimba.

Halcyon leucocephala Grey-head€?d Kingfisher A M . Widespread in

Guinea savanna during the dry season (south to Lamto) , but only north of

9*^ from June to Oct.

Halcyon chelicuti Striped Kingfisher R B . Conmon and sedentary in

every kind of savanna, south to the coast.

NEROPIDAE

Merops apiaster European Bee-eater P M . Numerous flocks (4 to 35

birds) widely ranging all over the country (mainly savanna) from Sep to

May.

Merops superciliosus ( persicus ) Blue-cheeked Bee-eater A (?) V . Pare

dry season vaorant north of 90n (Korhoao, Comoé) , except once at Toumodi.

Merops orientalis Little Green Bee-eater R B ? Small numbers in Sudan

belt only. Very few durina the rains.

Merops malimbicus Rosy Bee-eater A V . Scarce. Small flocks

(Abengourou, Nov; Ayamé, Jan) .

Merops nubicus Carmine Bee-eater A M . Common dry season visitor (Nov-

Apr) north of 8*^, rarely south to Toumodi.

Merops albicollis VJhite-throated Bee-eater A M . Abundant from Sep to

May all over the forest zone, but local in northern Guinea savanna (around

forest edges) . Flocks of migrants even fly over the top of Mt Niraba in

Apr.

Merops pusillus Little Bee-eater R B . Widely distributed, sedentary

pairs in natural or secondary open grasslands, throughout.

Merops bulocki Red-throated Bee-eater R B . Sparsely distribiited,

dry season, breeding colonies in northern Guinea belt. Ifcire numerous in

the Comoé than outside. Seems to strongly decrease from June to Oct (or

flocks more widely dispersed) .

31

Merops gularis Black Bee-eater R B . Secondary forest, plantations

and primary forest gaps, throucrhout the humid forest zone, north to Nlmba,

Sipilou, Daloa, Bongouanou. Usually in pairs.

Merops muelleri Blue-headed Bee-eater R B . Rare primary forest bird

(Tai, Nimba, N'Douci) .

Merops hirundineus Swallow-tailed Bee-eater R (A M) B . Widespread,

usually in pairs, through the Guinea savanna north of the forest. South

to Lamto in the dry season. Reduced numbers and only north of 9°N in the

rainy season.

CXDRACIIDAE

Coracias abyssinica Abyssinian Roller A M B Common north of 8^ in

the dry season (small numbers south to Lamto) . Very rare, north of 9%

from mid June to early Sep.

Coracias garrulus European Roller P M . Reoular dry season visitor.

36 records between 8° and 10% (mainly Comoé) . Once in south, at Toumodi.

Coracias cyanogaster Blue-bellied Roller R B . The typical roller of

southern guinea savanna (including Dabou) . Much rarer in the northern

guinea belt, up to Ferkessedougou and Odienne (very local) . Sedentary.

Invading some of the larfre cultivated clearings of the forest zone.

Coracias naevia Rifous-crovTned Roller A M B . Dry season breeding

pairs throughout the savannas north of the forest (including liamto) .

More numerous than abyssinica south of 8% where, like abyssiniens , it has

markedly increased during recent (dry) years. Absent from June to Sep

south of 9% and rare north of this limit.

Eurystomus glaucurus ( afer ) Broad-billed Roller A MB . Abundant

throughout the humid savannas (including coastal area and larae forest

clearings) from Oct to May. Quickly decreases northwards, reaching 10%.

Disappears from its southern rancre during the rains (mid- June to early

Sep) , when only small numbers remain north of 8%.

Eurystomus gularis Blue-throated Roller R B . The forest counterpart

of E. glaucurus from coast to Touba and Comoé. Restricted to forest edges,

gaps, riverbanks and emergent trees above the canopy. Does not increase

very much in large clearinas which are more often colonized by glaucurus.

UPUPIDAE

Upupa epops Hoopoe A and PM (R ?) B . Widespread in Nov-May north of

Bouaké. Only 4 sightings in June-Sep. Most of identified birds clearly

belong to African U. e. senegalensis , bat some other well fit the descrip-

tion of the Palearctic u. e. epops.

PHOENiaiLIDAE

Phoeniculus purpureus Seneaal Wood-Hoopoe R B . Especially common in

Borassus palm savanna (includina Dabou in the 1960s) . More and more local

from 8*^ to 10%.

32

Phoeniculus bollei Buff-headed Wœd-Hœpoe R B . All over the forest

zone, but more often seen along its northern limit and larae gallery forests

(Sipilou to Maraoué, Bouaké and Comoé) .

Phoeniculus castaneiceps Forest Wood-Hoopoe R B . More restricted to

high dense rain forest than Ph. bollei, in pairs instead of social oroups,

but also reaches the northern aalleries (Sipilou to Comoé) .

R B . Northern dry savanna;

BUCEROTIDAE

Bycanistes cylindricus Bro\vn-cheeked Hombill P B . The coimionest

large forest hombill in primary or high secondary forest from the coast

to Sipilou and Comoé. Sometimes concentrations in fruiting trees of up to

90 birds.

Bycanistes subcylindricus Black-and-viiite-casqued Hombill R B . Mich

rarer in the humid forest zone (Ayame to Tai, Nimba and Tiassale) than

cylindricus , but ranges further north in the savanna-aallery mosaic up to

Odienne and Ferkessédouciou .

Bycanistes fistulator Piping Hombill R B . Abundant throughout the

forest zone. Increases in the northern galleries (Comoé) during the wet

season .

Ceratogymna elata Yellow-casqued Hombill R B . Widespread throughout

the forest belt, but mainly along edges, clearings in secondary or gallery

forest. North to 9*^10 N.

Ceratogymna atrata Black-casqued Hombill R B . Restricted to humid,

dense, undisturbed forest, not extending as far north as C. elata. Formerly

common from Abidjan and Tai to Sipilou and Maroué. Now much reduced by

hunting and primary forest destmction.

Tropicranus albocristatus White-crested Hombill R B . Comrron through-

out the forest undergrowth north to 9°30.

Tockus nasutus Grey Hombill A M B . Abundant all over the zone from

Sep to June. Rare in July-Aug (vÆien found in only the northern half of the

country) .

Tockus fasciatus Pied Hombill R B . The most abundant hombill

throughout the forest zone, including northern galleries. Reaches 10°N

(north of Odienne) .

Tockus erythrorhynchus Red-beaked Hombill A V . Only 2 records (Feb-

Mar) in extreme north (M'Bincrue, Ouannolodoucou) .

Tockus camurus Red-billed Dv/arf Hombill R B . Widespread in every

high humid forest from the coast to Sipilou, Korhogo and Comoé.

Tockus hartlaubi Black Dwarf Hombill R B . As widespread as T.

camurus, but less common, more local and secretive.

33

Bucorvus abyssinicus Ground Hombill R R . Now scarce in northern

savannas outside reserves (formerly south to Beoumi) . Nay be more than

50-100 pairs in Comoë.

CAPITONIDAE

Lybius dubius Bearded Barbet B B . Northern Guinea savanna woodland

south to Bouaké and even Toumodi.

Lybius bidentatus Tooth-billed Barbet P B . More southern distribu-

tion than L. dubius (but overlaps north to Korhogo) : denser woodlands,

galleries and forest edges south to Lamto) .

Lybius vieillotti Vieillot' s Barbet R B . Abundant throughout the

savannas (local along the coast) .

Lybius (Tricholaima) hirsutus Hairy-breasted Barbet R R . Common in

every secondary or gallery forest and plantations, north to Touba and

Comoé.

Gymnobucco calvus Naked-faced Barbet R B . Freely overlaps with G.

peli over most of its range, but more abundant in the southern half of

the forest zone and never identified north of 8*^.

Gymnobucco peli Bristle-nosed Barbet R B . Ranges from the coast (local)

to Odienné and Comoé.

Pogoniulus (Buccanodon) duchaillui Yellow-spotted Barbet R B . Primary

and high secondary forest from Azagny and Tai at least to Gagnoa-Oume.

Pogoniulus scolopaceus Speckled Tinker-bird R B . Abundant all over

the forest zone (mainly secondary, edge or aallery forest and plantations)

to Comoé.

Pogoniulus chrysoconus Yellow-fronted Tinker-bird PB. A sudanian

savanna species ranging south to Bouaké and even Toumodi.

Pogoniulus leucolaima Yellow-rumped Tinker-bird R B . Common throughout

the forest zone, more often in secondary habitats, wherever high trees

remain, including northern Guinea galleries.

Pogoniulus subsulphureus Yellow-throated Tinker-bird R B . Distribution,

habitat, morphology and song surprisingly similar to those of P. leucolaima ,

with which it overlaps over most of its range.

Pogoniulus atroflavus Red-rumped Tinker-bird R R . Primary and

secondary forest from Abidjan to Sipilou, Tai and Maraoué.

Trachyphonus (Trachylaemus ) purpuratus Yellow-billed Barbet R B .

Restricted to more primary than secondary forest; Abidjan to San Pedro,

Nimba, Pouaflé, Lamto.

INDICATORIDAE

Indicator indicator Greater Honeyguide R B . Sparsely distributed

throughout the savanna zone north of the forest, including Lamto.

34

Indicator minor Lesser Floneyquide P, B . Inœnspicuous and no\ftÆiere

abundant as other Honeyguides. Gallery and secondary forests, savanna

woodlands. Lamto and Reoumi to Nimba and Comod.

Indicator maculatus 4 Spotted Honeyouide P B . Forest from Tai and

Lamto to Boron and Comoé.

Indicator exilis Least Honeyquide R R . Lamto, Soubré, Nimba.

Forest edges and gallery.

Indicator willcocksi Willcocks's Honeyguide P B . Tai to Sipilou and

Lamto . Rare .

Melichneutes robustus Lyre-tailed Honeyguide PB. In spite of its

loud display, known only from Tai and Nimba (Chappuis) . Primary forest.

Melignomon eisentrauti Eisentraut's Honeyouide PB? Collected on

Liberian side of Mt Nimba (FT'7) . Suspected in Tai from unconfirmed siohting.

Prodotiscus insignia Cassin's Honeyouide R B . Tai to Gaonoa, Lamto,

Bœuml, Boron and Comod. Edges et gallery forests.

Prodotiscus regulus Brown-backed Honeyouide P B . Collected on Nimba

(Liberia, FW) .

PICIDAE

Junx tor qui 11a European Wryneck P FI . Reoular at Lamto (Nov-Mar) .

Also Korhogo and Comoé.

Campethera punctuligera Fine-spotted Woodpecker P B . All the savannas

north of the forest. Rare south of Bouaké (to Lamto) .

Campethera maculosa ■ Golden-backed Woodpecker P B . The forest zone from

Abidjan and Tai to Lamto, Beoumi, Nimba and Sipilou.

Campethera nivosa Buff-spotted Woodpecker P B . Ayame to Dabou and

Tai, north to Sipilou, Korhogo and Comoé. Dense undercfroxd:h of primary and

secondary forests.

Campethera carol i Brown-eared Woodpecker R b . F"ore a primary forest

snecies than most other woodpeckers. Ayame to Tai, T.amto and Sipilou.

Dendropicos fuscescens Cardinal ^"'oodpecker P B . Irrecnalarly

distributed throuah Guinea woodlands (Lamto to Comoé) . Also forest edaes.

Dendropicos gabonensis ( lugubris ) Gabon Woodpecker PB. 18 localities

scattered throuah the forest zone, north to Comoé.

Dendropicos ( Dendrocopos ) obsoletus Prown-backed ’■■Woodpecker R B .

Moderately common over the entire savanna zone, from. Lamto northwards.

Mesopicos goertae Grey Woodpecker R B . All over the savannas.

Increasina frequency as one moves northwards, from Lamto.

Mesopicos pgrrhogaster Fire-bellied Woodpecker R B . The commonest and

most uniformly distributed woodpecker in all types of forests, from the

coast to Korhogo and Comoé.

35

EURYLAEMIDJÆ

Smithornis capensis Delacour's Broadbill R B . Undergrowth of primary

and secondary forests of Tai, Niinba to Lamto and Beoumi.

Smithornis rufolateralis Rufous-sided Broadbill R B . Somev\iiat more

local and more restricted to high primary forest than capensis. Tai,

Nimba, Oumé.

PITTIDAE

Pitta angolensis Blue-winaed Pitta (Anoola Pitta) R B . Forest floor

of Lamto, Danané, Maraoué and Tai. Uncommon.

ALAUDIDAE

Mirafra rufocinnamomea (buckleyi ) Flappet Lark (Buckley's Bush Lark)

R B . Regular in dry, open savanna, both southern and northern caainea and

even coastal sandy areas (Dabou, Grand Bassam) .

Mirafra af ricana Rufous-naped Bush Lark R B . Montane grassland on

top of Mt Nimba.

Mirafra nigricans Dusky Lark R B . From Bouake-Beoumi (only in the

dry season) at least to Ferkessédougou and Comod. Local.

Eremopterix leucotis Chestnut-backed Finch-Lark A V ? Recently

recorded near Korhogo (Nov, Ledant) . One more example of southward

extending range of sudanian species with increasing dryness.

Galerida ( Heliocorgs ) modesta Sun Lark R B . Dry, often rocky savanna

from Comoé to FVoundiali.

HIRUNDINIDAE

Riparia cincta Banded Sand-martin A V . 3 records (Comoé, Mar to July) .

Riparia riparia European Sand-martin P M . Only 8 records on lagoons

(Abidjan) , lake (Kossou) and river (Comoé) . Nov-Apr.

Hirundo nigrita T'Jhite-throated Blue Swallow R B . Common all along

the major rivers with forested banks. Also lagoons.

Hirundo smithii ^ij^e-tailed Swallow PB? On rivers in the northern

Guinea belt. local (Beoumi to Odienné and Comoé) . Also southern lakes

(Yamoussoukro, Ayamé) .

Hirundo aethiopica Ethiopian Swallow R P . Very local (Katiola,

Ferkessédougou) . May have been overlooked.

Hirundo lucida Red-chested Swallow R B . Often breedina in villages,

from Lamto to 10°N.

Hirundo rustica European Swallow P M . Very abundant mostly in central

and southern Ivory Coast (even in towns) ^ere it largely outnumbers local

swallows. Sep to Apr, but some remain through the wet season. 13

recoveries of birds ringed in France, Belgium and Germany.

36

Hirundo leucosoma Pied-winged Swallow R R . Seen in small numbers

from Beoumi to Odienne and Comoe. Breeds in Bouake and near Korhoao.

Hirundo daurica (rufula) Red-runped Swallow R B . Often in association

with other species. More than 30 localities from 7^30 to 10^.

Hirundo senegalensis ^tosque Swallow P B . Identified only in some

villages north of 9%, but cited from coast (BMH, confused with the

following ?) .

Hirundo semi ru fa Rufous-chested Swallow R B . The commonest breeding

swallow throuahout the forest zone, bLit seen occasionally north to 10*^.

Hirundo abyssinica Lesser Striped Swallow R B . Known all over Ivory

Coast, but abundant only in the north (often breeds under road bridges) .

Hirundo fuligula (Ptyonoprogne rufigula) African Rock Martin R B .

Regular around cliffs in humid areas (Niinba, Man, Odienné) .

Hirundo spilodera (Lecythoplastes preussi) Preuss' Cliff Swallow P B .

Locally common (near Korhoao, south of Tinarela) .

Hirundo griseopyga Grey-rumped Swallow A V ? A single individual

recoanized (Comoé, Mar) .

Delichon urbica European House Martin P M . Seen a dozen times in

Oct-Nov and Mar-Apr, always high over the northern savannas (including

I.amto) . May be only a passage miarant.

Psalidoprocne nitens Square-tailed Roughv;ina Swallow R B . Less

numerous, more local and restricted to the forest zone than P. obscur a.

Nests found in July near Abidjan (sea level) and Man (Mt Toukmi, 1,150 m) .

Recorded north to Comoé in July.

Psalidoprocne obscura Fanti Rough-winged Swallow R B . Common from

Oct to May south of 7*^30 . Becomes rarer in the south during the rains to

invade all the Guinea zone.

MOTACILLIDAE

Anthus campestris Tawny Pipit P M . Recognized at least once (Feb) ,

north of Ferkessédougou .

Anthus cervinus Red-throated Pipit P M . Rather frequent in Guinea

savanna from Lamto to Ferkessédougou (Nov-Mar) .

Anthus leucophrys Plain-backed Pipit P B . Widespread throughout the

country in shortgrass, treeless areas (often man-made) .

Anthus novae seel and iae ( richardi ) Richard's Pipit P V ? Several

pipits well fitting this species' description (including call) seen in Mar

(Comoe) . Would be better confirmed by a capture.

Anthus similis (bannermani) Long-billed Pipit R B ? Not rare on

montane grassland of top of Mt Nimba.

Anthus trivial is Tree Pipit P M . Very abundant in all savannas

north of the forest (Oct-Apr) , sometimes south to Abidjan. Usually small

groups of 3 to 10. One recovery from Belgium.

37

Motacilla flava Yellow Wagtail P M . Very coraniDn in humid grasslands,

wetlands, around cattle, etc., throughout the country (slightly less in the

north) , from Sep to May. The races flava ^ flavissima, iberiae,

cinereocapilla and thunbergi have been tentatively identified. One recovery

from France.

Motacilla clara Mountain Wagtail R B ? 3 definite dry season records

(Comoe, Bandama and Cavally rivers) . Other unconfirmed reports.

Motacilla aguimp African Pied Wagtail R B . Common all along the

rivers in the forest zone, decreasing north of 8°N but reaching 9^30 N.

Macronyx croceus Yellow-throated Longclaw R B . All open savannas

south of 8°N. Becomes more restricted to humid and even swampy grasslands,

hence more local, in northern Guinea zone.

li^IIDAE

Prionops plumata Helmet Shrike R B . A widespread northern guinea

savanna species, now regularly found south to Lamto where it v.7as unknoi'ffi up

to the 1970s.

Prionops ( Sigmodus ) caniceps Chestnut-bellied Helmet-shrike R B .

Coimron all over the forest belt (Azagny and Tai to Sipilou and Comoé) .

Nilaus afer Brubru Shrike R B . Local in northern guinea savanna

zone, south to Beoumi.

Dryoscopus gambensis Gambian Riffback Shrike R B . Common over all

the savanna woodlands and northern galleries, now colonizing forest edaes

and plantations south to Nimba, Tai and Abidjan.

Dryoscopus (Chaunonotus ) sabini Sabine's Puffback Shrike R B . Known

from 8 high, almost primary, forest localities (Tai and Ayamé to Lamto and

Daloa) .

Tchagra australis Brown-headed Tchagra R B , All over the country in

secondary bush and forest edges. Comuoner than senegala in the forest

zone, becomes local and increasingly rare in northern guinea zone (hardly

reaches 10^) where it avoids pure savanna.

Tchagra senegala Black-headed Tchagra R B . Much cammoner than

australis in all savanna woodlands and much scarcer than it in the forest

and coastal zones (except savanna-like grasslands which it favours) .

Tchagra ( Antichromus ) minuta Blackcap Tchagra R B . Only known from

tall grass along forest edges in Lamto, Sipilou and Maraoué.

Laniarius barbarus Barbary Shrike R B . Coimron in dense woodlands

north of Bouake, much rarer in the southern guinea belt but again comnon

in the dry bushy areas along the coast (Azagny to Ass ini) .

Laniarius ferrugineus Bell Shrike R B . Common in gallery-savanna

nosaic and wodlands of all the guinea zone north of 7^1 (rare south to

Lamto and even Abidjan) .

Laniarius leucorhynchus Black Bouboii Shrike R B . Not uncommon in

dense low secondary growth from the coastal zone, north to Lamto and Beoumi.

38

Malaconotus ( Chlorophoneus ) sulfureopectus Oranae-breasted Bush Shrike

R B . Often heard in caiinea wDOdlands from Touinodi to 10%.

Malaconotus (Chlorophoneus) multicolor Many-coloured Bush Shrike R B .

Primary forest canopy of Lamto to Nimba, Tai, Maraoué and Comoé.

Malaconotus cruentus Fiery-breasted Rush Shrike R R . Widespread

(Abidjan to Bouake and Maraoue) and even common (Danane-Nimba-Ta'i area) in

canopy of primary or high secondary forests.

Malaconotus lagdeni Laqden's Bush Shrike R B . Very rare. Only

identified with certainty in Tai. Also cited from Nimba (RV) .

Malaconotus blanchoti Grey-headed Bush Shrike R B . Known from 9

localities in northern savanna woodlands (from Bouaké to Comoé and

Odienné) .

Lanius collaris Fiscal Shrike R B . Common in some urban gardens

and suburban areas (e.g. Abidjan) , but usually very local in farmlands,

recently burnt or overgrazed savannas, north to 9*^30 N.

Lanius senator Woodchat Shrike P M . Well distributed from Nov to

Apr in all the guinea zone. Rarely enters the forest belt (secondary

grasslands) .

Corvinella corvina Long-tailed (Yellow-billed) Shrike R B . Widespread

resident in savanna woodlands north of Bouaké. Several dry season records

south to Toumodi.

ORIOLIDAE

Oriolus oriolus European Golden Oriole P V . A male collected in a

gallery forest (Lamto, Oct) .

Oriolus auratus African Golden Oriole R B . A common savanna species

north of 8%. Seen south to Toumodi at least from Jan to May. ■

Oriolus brachyrhgnchus Black-headed Oriole R B , Common throughout

the forest zone, including the upper slopes of Mt Nimba and gallery forest,

north to 9°30.

Oriolus nigripennis Black-winged Oriole R B . Surprisingly synpatric

with the similar 0. brachyrhynchus . As a ^ole, it is more abundant than

the latter in high canopy, primary forest and southern humid forest zone.

DICRITRIDAE

Dicrurus adsim.ilis Glossy-backed Drongo R B . Common in all natural

or derived savannas and many secondary open habitats down to the coast.

Dicrurus atripennis Shining Drongo R B . Of regular occurrence in

high forest, locally north to 9^30 N.

Dicrurus ludwigii ( sharpei ) Square-tailed Drongo R B . Coirmoner than

atripennis in most forests, especially secondary and gallery forests, also

edges and small lÆxads. From the coast to Korhogo.

39

STURNIDAE

Poeoptera lugubris Narrow-tailed Starling R B . Ayairie to San Pedro,

Abenqourou, Lamto and Man. Often associated v/ith breeding colonies of

Ggmnobucco .

Onychognathus morio Crag Chestnut-winged Starling R B . Found

breeding (Parelius) in some rocky outcrops of the Korhoao-Boundiali area.

Onychognathus fulgidus Forest Chestnut-winged Starling R (?) B .

Inhabits mainly natural humid savannas (preferably with Borassus palms)

both north (Lamto to Sipilou, Maraoué and Comoé) and south (Dabou to

Sassandra) of the forest zone. Seasonal movements (nearly disappears from

I.amto in July-Sep) .

Lamprotornis (Lamprocolius ) purpureiceps Velvet-headed Glossy Starling

R B ? One collected (Sipilou, Apr) . A oroup sighted in Tai.

Lamprotornis (Lamprocolius ) cupreocauda Copper-tailed Glossy Starlina

R B . Groups of up to 50 birds in the forest canopy from Abidjan and San

Pedro to Maraoué. Ill defined local movements.

Lamprotornis (Lamprocolius ) purpureus Purple Glossy Starling R B .

Regular across the northern cruinea belt, rarely south to Toumodi in the

dry season (seasonal movements) .

Lam.protornis (Lamprocolius ) chloropterus Lesser Blue-eared Glossy Starling

R B . The commonest Glossy Starling from 7 to 9*^ (Toumodi to Odienné) .

^fc)re often in pairs than in flocks. A northward shift during the rains.

Lamprotornis (Lamprocolius ) chalcurus Short-tailed Glossy Starling R B .

Syirpatric with L. purpureus (i.e. slightly more northern distribution than

L. chlopterus) , at least in the dry season (seems to be much rarer in June-

Sep) .

Lamprotornis (Lamprocolius ) chalybeus Blue-eared Glossy Starling A M ?

Rare, north of 9*^ during tlie dry season (only ?) . Status unclear.

Lamprotornis caudatus Long-tailed Glossy Starling A V ? The rarest

and most northern Glossy Starlina (4 dry season records north of 9°30) .

Lamprotornis ( Coccycolius ) iris Emerald Starling ^ B ? Known only

from a narrow belt in the central guinea zone (Dabakala, Bouaké, Beoumi,

Touba) .

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster Amethyst Starlina A M B . Abundant every-

v/here in most months but with marked miaratory movements (involving thousands

birds) . Numbers peak in the coastal zone from Nov to Mar with lowest levels

in May- June. In southern guinea savanna, they are alv/ays less numerous

than in the south and nearly disappear from May to Sep. Small oroups or

isolated pairs may be found in all seasons between 8° and 10% but they

strongly increase in June-Aug, vÆiich confirms the northward movement during

the rains.

Spreo pulcher Chestnut-bellied Starling A V ? 2 extreme northern dry

season records (Ouangolodougou, M'Bingué) .

40

Buphagus africanus Yellow-billed Oxpecker R B . Small numbers on

Buffaloes and Roan Antelopes in Comoé and Maraoud, and sometimes on domestic

cattle in the northern savannas, but never more than 3-5 birds at a time.

It is absent from the most southern savanna, at least now, especially from

Lamto where a small herd of Buffaloes still exists. An apparently

undescribed small oxpecker has been seen on buffaloes in the undergrowth

of Tai forest. It may well disappear with its host species before being

known.

œRVIDAE

Ptilostomus afer Black Magpie R B . Uncommon. North of 8*^30 (south

to Bouake, BMH) .

Corvus albus Pied Crow R B . Abundant in all open habitats.

PICATHARTIDAE

Picathartes ggmnocephalus Guinea Bare-headed Rockfowl R B . So far

found breeding only on Mt Nimba (eggs, Apr) . Vagrants seen in gallery

forest of Lamto lacking suitable rocks (Aug-Sep, Prendergast) .

CAMPEPHAGIDAE

Coracina pectoralis ^^Jhite-breasted Cuckoo-shrike R B ? Recently only

found north of 9%, but Lowe collected it at Beoumi. Seems rarer in the

wet season (northward movement ?) .

Coracina azurea Blue Cuckoo-shrike R B . Local in high dense forest

(San Pedro to Nimba, Gagnoa and Lamto) .

Campephaga quiscalina Purple-throated Cuckoo-shrike R B , Uncommon in

dense forest (Azagny, Tai, Ntrnba, Lamto, Maraoué, Bouake).

Campephaga phoenicea Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike R B . Frequent in

gallery forests and small woods in all the guinea zone.

Campephaga lohata Wattled Cuckoo-shrike R B ? Seen 2 times in Tai's

primary forest. Cited from Nimba (F'7) .

PYCNONOTIDAE

Pgcnonotus barbatus Common Bulbul R B . Very abundant everyx'Æ^ere

outside the forest.

Andropadus curvirostrls Sombre Bulbul R B . Seen, mistnetted or tape

recorded from 24 localities through the forest zone (north to Sipilou and

Maraoué) .

Andropadus gracilis ( ansorgei ) Little Grey Bulbul R B . Occurs in

secondary as well as primary forest, from the coast to Sipilou, Bouakd and

Dabakala. The available information and specimens do not yet support the

existence of 2 distinct species {gracilis and ansorgei) .

Andropadus gracilirostris Slender-billed Bulbul R B . Nearly as

frequent as (and often sympatric with) gracilis, but so far only reported

north to Man, Gagnoa and Lam.to.

41

Andropadus virens Little Greenbul R B . Very abundant in all types

of secondary and gallery forests north to 10%.

Andropadus latirostris Yellow-viiiskered Greenbul R B . Equally

abundant and widespread but more in priirary undergrovrth where it is usually

the dominant species.

Calyptocichla serina Golden Bulbul R B . Local in the forest zone

(Tai to Danané, Man, Lamto and Abenqourou) .

Baepogon indicator T-^ite-taile?d Greenbul R B . Chiefly in second

growth, secondary forest and edges, from the coast to Sipilou, Korhogo and

Comoé. Moderately conmon.

ixonotus guttatus Spotted Greenbul R B . Quite few records across the

forest belt. Enters secondary and gallery forests north to Man, Lamto and

Agnibilekrou .

Chlorocichla (Pyrrhurus ) flavicollis Yellow- throated Leaf-love R B .

Gallery forest and small woods of the northern Guinea zone (south to Toumodi) .

Chlorocichla (Pyrrhurus ) simplex Simple Leaf-love R B . Common in dry

bushy areas alona the coast, then secondary growth and northern gallery

forest to nearly 10%.

Thescelocichla leucopleura Eliite-tailed Brownbul (Swamp Palm Bulbul)

R B . Abundant in every forest with oil or Raphia palmis, chiefly near

water, up to 9° 20 N.

Phyllastrephus (Pyrrhurus ) scandens Leaf-love R B . Local thJTOughout

the forest zone. Becomes commoner in aallery forest of the guinea zone,

north to Korhogo.

Phyllastrephus baumanni Baumann's Greenbul R B . Collected, in Tai

(Chappuis) and Beoumi (Lowe) . Also observed from San Pedro (Weitkowitz) to

Niinba and Lamto. Rare, primary forest.

Phyllastrephus icterinus Icterine Greenbiil P B . The commonest

Phyllastrephus all over the forest zone, north to Sipilou and Comoé.

Phyllastrephus albigularis ^"Jhite-throated Greenbul R B . Mainly primary

forest undergrowth from Abidjan and San Pedro to Mt Nimba and Maraoué.

Bleda syndactyla Bristle-bill R B . Frequent in the forest zone south

of 7%.

Bleda eximia Green-tailed Bristle-bill R B , Mainly the southern,

humid evergreen part of the forest (north to Nimba) .

Bleda canipilla Grey-headed Bristle-bill R B . By far the commonest

Bleda all over the forest zone, north to 9*^30.

Criniger (Trichophorus ) barbatus Bearded Greenbul R B . Common in all

the not too dense forest understory from the coast to 9°30.

Criniger (Trichophorus ) calurus IN/hite-bearded Bulbul R B . Much more

local than r. barbatus. Does not extend (?) beyond Nimba, Maraoué and

Abengourou .

42

Criniger (Trichophorus ) olivaceus Yellow-throated Olive Greenbul R B ?

Mistnetted in Tai primairy forest.

Nicator chloris West African Nicator P B . All the forest and southern

guinea zone, north to gallery forest of Coinoé (9%) .

TURDIDAE

Saxicola torquata Stonechat R B . Abundant on the suinmit ridge of Mt

Nimba. No other similar habitat in Ivory Coast.

Saxicola rubetra Whinchat P M . Abundant in every savanna, from Sep

to Apr mainly after the fires.

Oenanthe oenanthe WTieatear PM. 3 records (Ferkessédougou and Comoé,

Jan-Mar) .

Oenanthe bottae Red-breasted Chat AM? At least one good sighting on

a recently burnt savanna (Ouanaolodougou, Feb) .

Cercomela familiaris Red-tailed Chat R B ? Occurs on several northern

inselbergs (Nianabo, Korhogo, Boundiali, south of Odienné) .

Mgrmecocichla cinnamomeiventris tlhite-crowned Cliff Chat R B . On

rocky hills and small cliffs near Touba and Boundiali.

Myrmecocichla (Pentholaea) albifrons T-Thite-fronted Black Chat R B .

Usually sparse in guinea vxxdlands (rarely south to Toumodi) but locally

commoner (Sipilou, Odienné) .

Monticola sax at ills Rock-Thrush P M . One record east of Ferkessedouaou

(Mar) . Seen on Mt Nimba (Brosset) .

Monticola solitaria Blue Rock-Thrush P V ? Cited from Mt Nimba (FT'7) .

Phoenicurus phoenicurus Redstart P M . Small numbers throuahout the

guinea zone (Oct-M*ar) . Chce near /Abidjan.

Cercotrichas (Erytrhopygia) leucosticta Gold Coast Scrub Robin R B .

Not rare in primary forest undergrowth from Abidjan to Tai, Nimba, Lamto

and Maraoue.

Alethe diademata ( castanea) Fire-crest Alethe R B . Common. All

the forest zone, north to Korhogo.

Alethe poliocephala Brown-chested Alethe P B . Less canmon than A.

diademata. North to Comoé and Sipilou. Up to 1,600 m in montane forest on

Nimba.

Sheppardia cyornithopsis I^lhiskered Redbreast Akalat R B . 15 records

(Tai, Danané, Nimba) .

Stiphrornis erythrothorax Forest-robin R B , Unconspicuous but wide-

spread in primary forest undergrowth north to Sipilou and Maraoué.

Cossypha polioptera tThite-browed Robin-chat R B . Abundant on Mt

Nimba and Tonkui from 1 ,000 m to the upper limit of the montane forest.

43

Cossypha cyanocampter Blue-shouldered Pobin-chat R B . The only true

lowland forest Cossypha. Uncommon from Tai to Sipilou, Lamto and Bouakd.

Cossypha albicapilla I'Jhite-crowned Robin-chat R B . Chiefly northern

guinea and sub-sudan zone in dense woodland. Rare south of 8*^ (reaches

Toumodi) .

Cossypha niveicapilla Snowy-headed Robin-chat R B . Second grov^h,

edges and aallery forest, locally along the coast, commonly throuah southern

guinea zone, and increasingly local north of

Neocossyphus poensis hliite-tailed Ant-thrush R B . Rather common

throughout the forest zone, north to Comoé and Sipilou.

Neocossyphus ( Stizorhina ) finschi Finsch's Rusty Flycatcher R B . flore

restricted distribution and lower abundance than N. poensis. Abidjan to

Tai, Sipilou, Cagnoa, Abengourou.

Luscinia megarhynchos Nightingale P M . Common Oct-Apr in aardens and

secondary vegetation from A>bidjan to Korhoao and Nimba. Beains to sing in

Mar.

Turdus pelios (libonyanus ) Kurrichane Thrush R B . Widespread through-

out the country outside the rainforest, but commoner in guinea zone than

elsewhere .

Turdus (Geokichla) princei Grey Ground-thmsh R B . Primary forest

understory, from Abidjan and Tai to Nimba, Lamto and Comoé.

TIMMJIDAE

Trichastoma ( Malacocincla ) fulvescens Brown Illadopsis (Akalat) R B .

Mistnetted in Ta'i, Bouaké, Comoé. As other Trichastoma, poorly known

distribution due to secretive habits and difficult visual identification.

Trichastoma (Malacocincla) rufipennis Pale-breasted Illadopsis (Akalat)

R B . Identified: Ta'i, Nimba.

Trichastoma (Malacocincla) cleaveri Blackcap Illadopsis (Akalat) R B .

Recorded: Ta'i, Nimba, Lamto, Bouaké.

Trichastoma (Malacocincla) rufescens Rufous-winged Illadopsis (Akalat) .

Lamto, Tai, Nimba. Suspected at 4 other places.

Trichastoma (Malacocincla) puveli Puvel's Illadopsis (Akalat) R B .

One of the most widespread Trichastoma'. Soubre to Danané, Lamto, Bouaké,

Boron and Comoé, may be to Korhogo.

Phyllanthus atripennis Chestnut Babbler R B . Frequent around Tai

and Nimba and in the gallery forest of Maraoué and Comoé, but rather patchy

distribution over most of the forest zone (known from Abidjan, Lamto,

Agnibilekrou) .

Turdoides plebejus Brown Babbler R B . Conspicuous in all guinea

woodlands, north of Bouaké.

Turdoides reinwardii Blackcap Babbler R B . Apparently sparse

distribution across the northern forest-southern guinea belt (Lamto to

Sipilou) .

SYVIIDAE

Bradypterus baboecala Little Rush Warbler R B ? An unœnfirmed record

(singing bird in a swairp, Ferkessédougou , June) .

Locustella naevia Grasshopper Warbler P M . Found on guinean side of

Nimba (Brosset) .

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus Sedae Warbler P M . One record (Azagny,

liCdant) .

Acrocephalus scirpaceus Reed Warbler P M . Common in patches of tall

grass of secondary (often dry) habitats throughout the country. One

recovery from Belgium, Auq.

Acrocephalus arundinaceus Great Peed Warbler P M . Less common and

widespread tham scirpaceus . More often seen alona the coast (Ayame to

Azagny) than in the centre (Lamto, Bouaké) or the north (Comoé, Korhogo) .

Acrocephalus ( Calamoecetor ) rufescens Rufous Cane Warbler A V ? A

singing bird was strongly suspected to belong to this species because of

its peculiar voice, but its presence in Ivory Coast needs yet to be

supported by a specimen owing to its close resemblance with the Great Reed

T'^arbler .

Hippolais icterina Icterine Warbler P M . One mistnetted bird (Lamto,

Dec) . May be overlooked amona H. polyglotta.

Hippolais polyglotta Melodious Warbler P M . Common Oct-Apr from

Abidjan to Korhogo (gardens, second growth, savanna).

Hippolais pallida Olivaceous Warbler P or A M ? One mistnetted (Lamto,

Jan) . Several probable sightings. Both African and Palearctic populations

may occur.

Sphenoaecus ( Melocichla) mentalis Moustached Scrub-warbler R B . Common

in all savannas, including along the coast.

Sylvia borin Carden Warbler P M . The most abundant Sylvia throughout

(Abidjan to Nimba, Comoé and Korhogo, Sep-May) .

Sylvia atricapilla Blackcap P M . Rather local: Abidjan to Comoé,

Bouaké and top of Mt Nimba (Oct-Apr) .

Sylvia communis lliitethroat P M . Lamto and Comoe (Dec-Mar) . Scarce.

May have increased in recent years (following droughts in the Sahel where

it more usually wintered ?) .

Phylloscopus trochilus Willow Warbler P M . Common in all the guinea

zone (gardens and savanna woodlands, Sep-May) , but also in the coastal and

forest belts. 5 recoveries from Great Britain and Norway.

Phylloscopus sibilatrix Wood Warbler P M . Widespread from Aboisso

and 7\bidjan to Nimba and Comoé. Restricted to forest edge, high second

arowth, gardens or plantations with many trees.

Cisticola erythrops Red-faced Cisticol.a R B . The less common of the

5 widespread savanna Cisticolas . Patchily distributed from Abidjan to

Sipilou and Korhogo.

45

Cisticola cantans Singing Cisticola R B . Like C. erythrops , but

locally more abundant and known from more localities (24) .

Cisticola lateralis tThistling Cisticola R B . Very abundant in all

wooded savannas throughout the country,, including low second growth in the

forest zone.

Cisticola aberrans (emini) Rock-loving Cisticola R B . Occurs on most

rocky hills and inselbergs (Niangbo, Korhogo^ Boundiali and also Nimba) .

Cisticola galactotes Pufous Grass-Warbler R B . Abindant in all wet-

lands with highgrass or reedbeds from Abidjan to the sudan zone.

Cisticola natalensis Croaking Cisticola R B . Abundant in all grassy

open savanna from north to south.

Cisticola ruficeps Red-pate Cisticola R B . Several mistnetted from

Korhogo to M'Bingue. Cited from Corroé (Fgu Kxonberg) .

Cisticola brachyptera Shortwing Cisticola R B . Very abundant in

every type of savanna throughout Ivory Coasts usually sympatric with one to

several other Cisticolas.

Cisticola juncidis Common Fantail Cisticola R B . Locally common in

open^ usually dry, grasslands from Abidjan to Ferkessédougou,

Cisticola eximia Gold Coast Cloud-scraper R B . Known only from 6'

humid grassland localities between Beoumi, Korhogo and Comoé.

Prinia ( Heliolais ) erythroptera Red-wina Warbler R B , Locally

numerous in densely wooded savannas, bushy areas and suburban gardens over

most of the country,

Prinia sub f lava TaMiy-f tanked Prinia P B . Very abundant in every

open habitat (even forest clearings) , the southern P. s. melanorhyncha

gradually merging into the northern P. s. sub f lava,

Prinia leant ica Sierra Leone Prinia R B . Known only from the south-

western quarter of the country; Tal to Nimba, Man, Sipilou and Lamto.

Very local .

Apalis flavida (caniceps) Grey-capped Apalis R B . 2 males in breeding

condition obtained in gallery forests between Korhogo and M'Bingué (Feb) .

Cited from Comoé (Fgu Kronberg) .

Apalis nigriceps Black-capped Apalis R B . Recorded in high undis-

turbed forest from toth very humid (Ta‘i, Mt Tonkui) and dry areas (Comoé,

Ferkessédougou) , as well as intervening places (Lamto, Maraoué) .

Apalis sharpii (including goslingi) Sharpe Apalis P B . Widespread in

the forest zone from Abidjan and Tal to Nijito, Bouaké and Comoé.

Hypergerus atriceps Oriole Babbler R B . Often coimon in gallery

forests of the guinea zone, mainly north of 7°30 (rarer south to I,amto) .

46

Bathmocercus cerviniventris Black-headed Stream-warbler R R . So far

known from Tal, Nimba, Sipilou, Tjamto and Gagnoa, but may have a wider

distribution in the forest zone. It favours primary forest edaes and

clearings .

Camaroptera superciliaris Yellow-browed Camaroptera R B . Widely

but sparsely distributed in dense secondary growth and gallery forest from

the coast (rare) to northern guinea zone.

Camaroptera chloronota Green-backed Camaroptera R B . Commoner in the

western part of the country (Tai to Odienné, including the upper montane

forest of Nimba) , than elsevÆiere (Abidjan to Ferkessédouaou) .

Camaroptera brachyura ( brevicaudata ) Grey-backed Camaroptera R B .

Very abundant throughout the country outside the humid primary forest.

Eremomela pusilla Green-backed Eremomela R B . Common in all the

wooded savannas.

Eremomela badiceps Brown-crowned Eremomela R B . Frequent in many

secondary or gallery forests from Tai to Sipilou, Lamto and Bouaké.

Sylvietta virens (includincf flaviventris) Green Crombec R B . Common

throughout the forest and guinea zones. Restricted to galleries and dense

woods in the north.

Sylvietta denti Lemon-bellied Crombec P B . Smaller range and much

lower abundance than virens (Abidjan and Tai to Sipilou and Bouaké) .

Sylvietta brachyura Senegal Crombec R B . Widespread in northern

guinea savanna, south to I<amto vAiere it has markedly increased in recent

years.

Macrosphenus concolor Grey Longbill R B . Common in thick secondary

forest, edges of clearings etc, from Abidjan-Tai to Odienn^ (and upper

montane forest of Nimba) , Korhoao and Comoé.

Macrosphenus flavicans (kempi) Yellow longbill R B . Recorded from

Tai and Nimba to Beoumi and Abengourou.

Hylia prasina Green Hylia R B . Its distinctive call may be heard

throughout the forest zone, locally north to Odienné, Ferkessédouaou and

Comoé . Abundant .

Pholidornis rushiae Tiny Titweaver R B . Known only from Tai, Man,

Gagnoa and Lamto. Scarce (?) .

MUSCICAPIDAE

Muscicapa striata Spotted Flycatcher P M . Common everyvÆiere outside

the forest from Sep to Apr. m. s. striata and M. s. balearica have bœn

secured.

Muscicapa (Alseonax) cassini Cassin's Grey Flycatcher PB. On all

rivers, even small, with forest banks, north to 9^30.

47

Muscicapa gambagae Gambaga Dusky Flycatcher R B ? Visually identified

several times in the northern third of the country tut never collected.

Owing to its similarity with other Muscicapa, a specimen would be desirable.

Muscicapa (Alseonax) aquatica Swamp Flycatcher P B . Identified at

least twice (but no specimen secured) in swamps (Korhogo^ June).

Muscicapa (Alseonax ) epulata Little Blue Flycatcher R B . Definitely

identified only from Lamto and Tal (also cited from Nimba, FTV) , but may

occur elsewhere in high dense forest edges) .

Muscicapa (Alseonax J olivascens Olivaceiis Flycatcher R B . Lamto,

Gagnoa, Ta’i, Nimba. Probably overlooked as other unobtrusive forest

species .

Muscicapa caerulescens (= Alseonax cinereus ) Ashy Flycatcher R B .

Not uncommon in small forest clearinas around Tiassalé-Oumé-Lamto , San

Pedro and Danané.

Muscicapa (Parisoma) griseigularis Grey-throated Tit-Flycatcher R B .

Collected at EXieké {M. g. parelii, Traylor), then in Tai and Nimba areas.

Rare.

Muscicapa (Pedilorhynchus ) comitata Dusky Blue Flycatcher R B . A

bird of the northern, semi -deciduous forest (Lamto, Gagnoa, Maraouë to

Sipilou and even Boron, 9*^) . Also recorded around Tai and Abidjan.

Secondary and gallery forest.

Muscicapa (Pedilorhynchus ) tessmanni Tessmann’s Flycatcher R B . More

often in primary more humid southern forest than comitata. Commoner around

San Pedro, Ta'i and Nimba. North to Lamto.

Muscicapa ( Artomyias ) ussheri Ussher's Dusky Flycatcher R B . Wide-

spread in clearings of the forest zone from the coast to Sipilou and Beoumi.

Breeds at 1,160 m on Mt Tonkui.

Myioparus (Parisoma) plumbeus Grey Tit-flycatcher P. B . Sparsely

distrib\ited in savanna woodland and small gallery forest from Lamto to

Boua]<:é (rare) and mainly to the northern border.

Ficedula hypoleuca Pied Flycatcher P M . Recorded from the coast to

10°N, Sep to Apr, but less common (or less conspicuous ?) than M. striata.

Paces F. h. hypoleuca and one time F. h. speculigera obtained.

Fraseria ocreata Forest Flycatcher R B . In primary and secondary

forest undergrowth, away from water. From Tai to Coiroé.

Fraseria cinerascens tliite-broxæd Forest Flycatcher R B . A common

bird in the seasonally flooded forest understory along all the rivers and

small streams surveyed, north to Sipilou and Comod.

Melaenornis edolioides Black Fl.ycatcher R B . Well distributed in

northern guinea savanna woodland, south to Maraoud and Toumodi.

Melaenornis annamarulae Nimba Flycatcher R B ? Newly discovered

from Liberian food of Mt Nimba (HV) and subsequently collected at Tai

(Chappuis) .

48

Bradornis pallidus Pale Flycatcher R B . Not uncommon throughout

the guinea savanna woodland (Lamto to IO^n). Also locally in the forest

and coastal zones.

Hyliota flavigaster Yellow-bellied Flycatcher R B . Another species

of the guinea savanna woodland, but scarcer than the previous one. Mostly

around 8-9*^, rarely south to Lamto and north of Odienné.

Hyliota viol ace a Violet-backed Flycatcher R B . Apparently rare and

restricted to primary rain forest (Tai to Nimba, Gagnoa and Lamto) ,

Megabyas flaimulatus Shrike-flycatcher R B . High rain forest from

Tai to Gagnoa and Oumé (only 9 records) . Both in canopy and lower levels.

Bias musicus Black and White Flycatcher R B . Usually on isolated

trees of forest clearings, or gallery forest edges in the southern savanna

zone. From Abidjan and San Pedro to Beoumi-Bouakë .

Bâtis minima (poensis) Fernando Po Puff-back Flycatcher R B . Known

from Soubre, Gaonoa and Lamto. Cited from Nimba {F[<!) . Rare (or difficult

to detect) . Dense primar^^ rain forest.

Batis senegalensis Senegal Puff-back Flycatcher R B . Common throucfh-

out the savannas north of the forest (includina Lamto) . Also cited near

Abidjan (BMH) .

Platysteira cyanea Scarlet-spectacled Wattle-eye P B . Common in

gallery forest, small woods and old secondaiy grovfth of all the guinea

zone, and also locally in coastal area.

Platysteira ( Dyaphorophyia ) castenea Chestnut Wattle-eye R B . The

commonest forest flycatcher everywhere, north to Comoë and Korhogo.

Platysteira ( Dyaphorophyia) tonsa White-spotted V7attle-eye R B .

Collected near Abidjan and San Pedro in the canopy of primary forest.

Rare.

Platysteira (Dyaphorophyia) blissetti Red-cheeked Wattle-eye R B .

Locally common in thick old secondary vegetation and dense undergrowth of

gallery forest from Abidjan and Ta'i to Sipilou and Beoumi.

Platysteira (Dyaphorophyia) concreta Golden-bellied Wattle-eye R B .

Not rare in the lower strata of high rain forest from Tai to Sipilou and

at least to Lamto. Ascends to 1,500 m on slopes of Mt Nimba.

Erythrocercus mccallii Chestnut-capped Flycatcher R B . Common, in

social groups of up to 14 birds, in all the forest zone, north to Nimba,

Korhogo and Comoë.

Trochocercus (Erannornis ) longicauda Blue Fairy Flycatcher R B .

Sparsely distributed and local throughout the guinea zone (savanna wood-

lands, small gallery forests) and also along the coast.

Trochocercus nitens Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher R B . Often seen

or mistnetted in the lower level of dense rain forest from Tai to Nimba.

Also recorded from Gagnoa and Lamto.

49

Trochocercus nigromitratus EXasky Crested Flycatcher, Suspected in the

Tai forest but not definitely identified.

Terpsiphone rufiventer ( Tchitrea nigriceps ) Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher

R B . Abundant in all secondary and gallery forests mainly from Man, Lamto,

Abenqourou to Comoé, Korhogo and Odienné. Less numerous in dense humid rain

forest (Ayamé, Abidjan, Ta'i) and upper forested slopes of Mt Nimba.

Terpsiphone (Tchitrea) viridis Paradise Flycatcher R B . Recorded in

all rronths (may be seasonal fluctuations) over the entire forest and guinea

zones, Uit never inside the primary rain forest and much scarcer than T.

rufiventer,

PARIDAF

Parus leucomelas (Melaniparus niger ) Black Tit R B . Widespread all

over the guinea zone (savanna woodland) including Lamto.

Parus funereus Dusky Tit R B . Rare primary forest species. Tape

recorded at Ta’i (Chappuis) and collected from Nimba (Ft'J) ,

REMIZIDAF

Anthoscopus parvulus Penduline Tit R B . local in dry guinea woodlands

north of 9*^.

Anthoscopus flavifrons Forest Penduline Tit R B . Rare in treefall

gaps of primary forest (Tai, Fresco) .

SALPRONITHIDAE

Salpornis spilonota Spotted Creeper R B . Northern cfuinea voodlands

(Comoé to Odienné and Tinarela) ,

NECTARINIIDAE

Anthreptes gabonicus Mouse Brown Sunbird R B . Widespread in mangroves

and along the forested banks of rivers north to 9°50.

Anthreptes fraseri Scarlet-tufted Sunbird R B . Often caught in mist-

nets in forest undergrovjth from the coast to 9°N.

Anthreptes rectirostris Yellow-chinned Sunbird R B . Mainly secondary

or gallery forests and bushy areas. Irregular distribution. Coastal to

northern guinea zones.

Anthreptes longuemarei Violet-backed Sunbird R B , Sporadically

distributed in northern savannas, from Lamto (rare) and mainly 8° to 10%,

Woodlands and small gallery forest.

Anthreptes collaris Collared Sunbird R B . Abundant throughout the

country except dense rain forest and open dry savanna.

Anthreptes (Hedydipna) platura Pygmy long-tailed Sunbird R B . Rare,

on its southern limit (Comoé, Ferkessédougou , Boundiali) .

Nectar inia (Anthreptes ) seimundi Little Green Sunbird R B . Uncommon

but widespread in the forest zone. Fnters northern gallery forests at

least up to 9%.

50

Nectarinia (CyanomitraJ bates! Bates' Simbird R B . Rare primary

forest sunbird taken near Lamto, Gaqnoa and Tai.

Nectarinia (Cyanomitra) olivacea Olive Sunbird R B . Very abundant

in every primary, secondary or gallery forest throughout the country.

Nectarinia (CyanomitraJ verticalis Olive-backed Sunbird R B . Common

in coastal to southern ouinea zone, outside the dense forest. Decreases

north of 9%.

Nectarinia (CyanomitraJ cyanolaema Blue-throated Prov^Ti Sunbird R B .

Abundant in coastal woodlands and coconut oalm. plantations, ranaing

locally north to Lamto and Daloa.

Nectarinia ( Chalcomitra J fuliginosa Carmelite Sunbird R B . Only

found in coastal area (Assini to San Pedro) viiere it is locally common,

often in dense bushes near water.

Nectarinia ( Chalcomitra J senegalensis Scarlet-breasted Sunbird P B .

Ranues right across the northern guinea and sudan zones. Not rare.

Nectarinia ( Chalcomitra J adelberti Buff-throated Sunbird R B . Local

in plantations, edges, gallery forest, mainly between 6^ and S^N (extremes:

Grand Bassam and Korhogo) .

Nectarinia (Cinnyris J venusta Yellow-bellied Sunbird R B . Very

abundant at the upper limit of montane forest on Mt Nimba (1 ,600-1 ,700 m) .

Widely ranging but local or uncommon in lowland from the coast to 9*^20 N.

Nectarinia (Cinnyris J chloropygia Olive-bellied Sunbird R B .

Abundant everywhere in secondary vegetation, gardens, edcres and gallery

forest to nearly 10*^.

Nectarinia (Cinnyris J minulla Tiny Sunbird P B . Tæss widely ranging

(but knov/n from Abidjan to Korhogo) and imich less abundant than N. chlropygia.

Poucrhly similar, but often more forested, habitat.

Nectarinia (Cinnyris J cuprea Copper Sunbird R B . Common in all types

of savanna from the coast to the northern border, but its abundance markedly

decreases north of 9*^.

Nectarinia (Cinnyris J coccinigaster Splendid Sunbird R B . Range very

similar to that of N. cuprea but usually more abundant and more partial to

denser v/oodlands.

Nectarinia pulchella Beautiful Long-tailed Sunbird R B . Rather common

north of 9*^, but rarely reported south to Bouaké. A recent sighting of a

pair in Abidjan (Arbeille, Mar) may represent a new extension or a previously

undetected population, well south of the normal range.

Nectarinia (Cinnyris J johannae Johanna's Sunbird R B , Uncoimion forest

species, mostly distributed through the humid southern forest (Ayamé to Tai

and Nimba) but locally ranging north to Maraoue and Dabakala.

Nectarinia (Cinnyris J superba Superb Sunbird R B . Cormioner than N.

johannae and more often found on edges, secondary or gallery forest.

Throughout the forest zone, north to Sipilou and Comoé.

51

ZOSTRROPIDAE

Zosterops senegalensis Yellow IJhite-eye P P . Mostly northern cruinea

savanna woodland. Sporadically south to Lamto and even near Abidjan and

Azagny.

fj^tbepizidaf:

Emberiza hortulana Ortolan P M . Q'-iite common between 1 ,250 and 1,400

m on the Guinean side of Mt Nimba (Brosset) . Not yet recocrnized v-7ithin our

limits.

Emberiza cabanisi Cabanis' Bunting R B . Scarce in the southern ouinea

savanna but becomes quite common north of 9°N.

Emberiza forbesi lâttle Bunting P B . Certain identification only 5

times (Comoé to Ouancrolodougou and M'Bingué) .

Emberiza tahapisi Cinnamon-breasted Rock Bunting R B . Common on

rocky hills around Korhoqo, south to Niangbo.

FRINGILLIDAE

Serinus mozambicus Yellow-fronted Canary R B . Common throughout the

country in open arassy, liahtly wooded habitats.

Serinus (Poliospiza) gularis Streaky-headed Seed-eater R B . Seen

and collected at least 4 times between 9° and 10*^ (Comoe to Korhoao) .

PLOCEIDAE

Amblyospiza albifrons Grosbeak Weaver R B . Several breedina colonies

around the forest-savanna limit (Yamoussoukro to Maraoué, Daloa, Bouaké,

Katiola and Comoé) . More patchily distributed elsewhere south to Sassandra

and north to Korhogo. Small scale movements during the dry season.

Ploceus pelzelhi Little Weaver R B . Very restricted to some coastal

lagoons, marshes and ricefields. Often mixed with other Weaver species on

feeding grounds but usually separated. Breeding colonies on trees over-

hanging water (Grand Bassam, Azagny) .

Ploceus aurantius Orange Weaver R B . 7\nother species partial to

coastal waters but more abundant and widespread than P. pelzeni. Breeds

both on dense mangrove ferns and in trees away from water (in Abidj2in for

instance) . Locally alonq large rivers north to 60N.

Ploceus heuglini Heuglin's Masked Weaver R B . Widespread throuahout

the coastal (mostly) southern and (less) northern guinea savannas. Often

breeds in small colonies (2 to 14 nests) close to raptors' nests or on

telephone wires.

Ploceus cucullatus Village ^'teaver R B . Common breeder in every town

or villaae.

Ploceus nigerrimus ( castaneofuscus ) Chestnut and Black Weaver F B .

Abundant south of 7%, it quickly decreases north of the forest but yet

breeds in Comoé and Korhoao (forest along water) ,

52

Ploceus superciliosus ( pachyrhynchus ) Compact Weaver R B . Local in

high rank grass from DahDu to Comoe. Subject to (local ?) seasonal move-

ments .

Ploceus tricolor Yellow“m.antled Weaver R P . All the forest zone but

only south of 80n.

Ploceus albinucha Maxwell's Black Weaver R B . Small breeding

colonies found from San Pedro to Lamto, Bongouanou and Maraouë.

Ploceus nigricollis ( brachypterus ) Spectacled Weaver R B . Locally

common in coastal and southern guinea savanna. Very patchy distribution

north of 7*^ and never seen north of 8^.

Ploceus preussi Golden-backed Weaver R B . Collected at Sipilou (Apr)

and near Tal (Dec) . Cited from Niraba (FÎ7) . Rare.

Malimbus scutatus Red-vented Malimbe R B . The most abundant Malimbe

of the evergreen forest zone. Recorded north to Sipilou and Lamto.

Malimbus nitens Blue-billed Malimbe R B . Common in dense humid under-

growth of every kind of forest, including high mangrove. May even nest in

dense savanna woodland if trees overhanging water are available. Extends

north to Sipilou and Comoé.

Malimbus malimbicus Crested Maliinbe R B . Uncommon and very local, in

primary as well as secondary forest from San Pedro and Azagny north to

Maraoué and Bouaké. Forages at intermediate levels between M. nitens (the

lowest) and M. rubricollis (upper part of the forest) .

Malimbus rubricollis Red-headed Malimbe R B . Widely distributed and

common right across the forest zone. South of 6% it is outnumbered by M,

scutatus but from Lamto northward, it is the most conspio-ious Malimbe

(although the secretive M. nitens may sometimes dominate) . It ranges north

to Comoé and Boron.

Malimbus ballmanni Cola Malimbe R B ? Type specimen collected near

Tal (Wolters) . No additional data.

Malimbus rubriceps ( Anaplectes melanotus ) Red-headed Weaver R B ? 2

pairs seen at widely separated places in Comoé (Apr and July) . Along small

patches of forest.

Quelea erythrops Red-headed Quelea R B . The only important pest on

ricefields and ndllet (but flocks and breedina colonies of moderate size) .

Ranges from the coast (Dabou, Azagny, San Pedro) to the north (especially

the Korhogo-Ferkessedougou area) . Fostered by agricultural development.

Quelea quelea Red-bi.l led Quelea A V . Recently reported twice in dry

season near Ferkessédougou (Ouattara, unpubl. report FAO/OCTATAV) . May be

related to the southward shift of the species' range after the successive

droughts of the last 10 years.

Euplectes afer (afra) Golden Bishop R B . Much less numerous than

E. orix. Similar range and habitat.

Euplectes ( Coliuspasser ) ardens T-Ona-tailed Black Whydah R B . local.

Northern guinea range: Beoumi-Bouake to Comoé and Korhogo.

53

Euplectes hordaceus (hordacea) Black-winged Red Bishop R B . Small

numbers in marshes and ricefields of the coastal area and large clearinas

of the forest zone. Patchily distributed through the entire ouinea belt.

Euplectes orix Red Bishop R B . By far the most abundant Euplectes

in northern ricefields, but rare in the natural savanna (in high crrassy

swamps) . Does not range southward beyond Bouake.

Euplectes macrourus Yellow-mantled t^hydah R B . The most abundant and

widespread granivorous bird of all the natural savanna across the country.

In central areas (such as Lamto) , v\here other Euplectes and Q. erythrops

are rare, it builds very dense populations on larae ricefields switchina

from a normally territorial and polygamous to a nearly colonial breeding

system.

Anomalospiza imberbis Cuckoo Weaver R B . Known only from Mt Tonkui

(Dekeyser) and Maraoué.

Plocepasser superciliosus Sparrow-Weaver R B . Uncommon but widespread

north of 8°N.

Passer griseus Grey-headed Sparrow R B . Abundant in every town and

village. Sometimes foimd very far from any human settlement (Comod) .

Petronla dentata Bush Sparrow P B . Only 8 records (M'Binoue to

Ferkessédouaou and Comoé) .

Vidua macroura Pin-tailed K■hyd^ih P B . Common in all short-orass man-

made habitats. Rare in natural savanna.

vidua orientalis (togoensis ) Broad-tailed Paradise l-^ydah R B . Wide-

spread from Touba, Beoumi and Bouake to Mali and Upper Volta boundaries.

2 species are sometimes recognized viiich may both occur in Ivory Coast:

V. togoensis in the southern part of the range (collected by Tjowe) and

V. orientalis in the north.

Vidua ( Hypochera ) chalybeata. Vidua wilsoni (H. funerea) , Vidua funerea

(H. nigeriae ) , Vidua camerunensis Indiao Birds R B . All 4 species

have been cited and collected from the northern half of the country

(respectively by Bouet, Schouteden and De Roo, Parelius and Traylor, Bellier) .

All the Lagonosticta knoMi to be parasitized by these 4 species also occur

within the range of these vidua (Payne 1968) . They are often considered

merely as subspecies of v. chalybeata (White 1963) ; status of each remains

unclear due to nearly impossible field identification.

ESTRILDIDAE

Clytospiza dybowski Dybowski's Twin-spot R B ? Collected at Duékud

(Parelius) .

Hypargos nitidulus (Mandigoa nitidula) Green Twin-spot R B . Frequent

in dense undergrowth of secondary forest, often near ricefields, in the

wettest part of the forest zone (Tai-Danané-Nimba) .

Pirenestes ostrinus (sanguineus) Seedcracker P B . Coimmon in hvimid

undercrrowth of all the forest zone, often raiding nearby ricefields viien

available. Extends north to FerkessédoucxDu alona rivers.

54

Nig rit a canicapilla Grey-crowned Negro-finch R B . Widespread in

broken, secondary or gallery forest from the coast to Odienne, Korhogo and

Comoé.

Nigrita bi color Chestnut-breasted Negro-finch R B „ Same status and

distribution as N. canicapilla but at a lower level in the forest.

Nigrita fusconota tJhite-breasted Negro-finch R B ? Identified between

Bondoukou and Agnibilekrou (secondary forest edge, July) .

Parmoptila woodhousei ( jamesoni ) Red-fronted Ant-pecker R B . Taken

at Tai. Cited from Niinba (FW) . Rare.

Spermophaga haematina Blue-billed Weaver R B . Common in all types of

forest north to Korhogo and Comod.

Nesocharis capistrata I'Jhite-cheeked Olive-weaver R B . Uncommon in

northern guinea savanna woodland (11 localities) .

Amadina fasciata Cut-throat Finch A V ? One dry season sighting

(Ouangolodougou) .

Pytilia hypogrammica Yellow-winged Pytilia R B . Uncommon in

relatively humid savanna woodland (Toumodi to Beoumi, Bouaké and Comoé) .

Pytilia phoenicoptera Red-winged Pytilia R B . 4 separate records,

mainly along gallery forest’ edges, north and around 9*^1 (Comoé to Odienné) .

Estrilda melpoda Orange-cheeked Waxbill R B . The commonest waxbill

throughout the country.

Estrilda troglodytes Black-runped Waxbill R B . Very patchily

distributed through northern forest - southern guinea belt (Maraoue,

Abengourou, Comoé) . Also near Abidjan (Chanproux) .

Estrilda astrild Waxbill R B . Widespread but rarely common all

over the guinea savanna (Lamto to Ferkessédougou) .

Estrilda bengala (Uraeginthus bengalus) Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu R B .

All open savannas north of 9*^.

Estrilda (Lagonosticta ) caerulescens Lavender Firefinch R B . Often

seen, only north of 9^ (isolated pairs) .

Estrilda larvata (Lagonosticta nigricollis ) Black faced Firefinch R B .

Rather local (7 records) , all north of 9%.

Lagonosticta rufopicta Bar-breasted Firefinch R B . Same northern

distribution as the 3 previous species, but may be rare (only 4 records) .

Lagonosticta senegala Seneaal Firefinch R B . Widespread in the

northern half of the country and rarer south to the coast (Abidjan) .

Nearly always in towns and villages.

Lagonosticta rubricata Blue-billed Firefinch R B . Short grass,

open savannas, from 10°N to extreme south (Sipilou) of the northern guinea

zone.

55

Lagonotsticta rara Black-bellied Firefinch P B . Locally common

along some gallery forest, from Bouaké to Comoé and Korhogo at least.

Amandava (Estrilda) sub f lava Zebra Waxbill P B . Tall grass swamps

and open plains along rivers (Korhogo and Comoé) .

Ortygospiza atricollis Quail-finch R B . Not uncommon in short grass

areas, from Comoé and Korhogo, south to Bouaké and Man.

Lonchura fringilloides Magpie Mannikin P B . More patchily distributed

than the other 2 Lonchura. Along ricefields and in high rank grass of

abandonned plantations. From Soubre to Danane, Sipilou, Abengourou and

Bouaké .

Lonchura bicolor Blue-billed Mannikin R B . Not numerous biTt wide-

spread through high grass, often humid, areas south of 8°N.

Lonchura cucullata Bronze Mannikin R B . Very abundant, in every town

and village, and surrounding farmlands.

REFERENCES

BANNERMAN, D.A. (1930-1951) The Birds of Tropical West Africa. Vols 1-8.

Crown agents, London

BANNERVIM, D.A. (1953) The Birds of West and Equatorial Africa. 2 vols.

Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh

BANNERMAN, D.A. & LOt"7E, W.P. (1923) Report on the birds collected durina

the British Museum expedition to the Ivory Coast (French West Africa) .

Ibis (11) 5: 667-748

BECHINGER, F. (1964) Beobachtungen am Weissbrust Waldhuhn {Agelastes

meleagrides) im Frei leben und in der Gefanaeschaft. Gefied. Melt. 88;

61-62

BERTjIOZ, J. (1954) Etude d'une petite collection d' oiseaux de Côte

d'Ivoire. Bull. Mus. Nat. Hist. Nat. Paris 26: 658-662

BERLIOZ, J. (1960) Note sur les oiseaux du aenre Hyliota (Passériformes ,

Muscicapidés) . Bull. Mus. Nat. Hist. Nat. Paris 32: 197-199

BERLIOZ, J. (1962) Note sur une espèce africaine d ' Alcédinidé , le Myioceyx

lecontei (Cassin) . Bull. Mus. Nat. Hist. Nat. Paris 34; 200-201

BIGOT, L. (1963) Note ornithologique sur les monts Nimba, avec analyse de

contenus stomacaux. Oiseau R. F. O. 33: 283-285

BIGOT, L. & ROUX, F. (1966) Premières données sur l'avifaune de la savane

et la forêt galerie de Lamto (Côte d'ivoire). Oiseau R. F. O. 36: 145-152

56

POUET, G. (1931) Contribution à la répartition des oiseaux en Afrique

Occidentale (Libéria et Bas Cavally, frontière francolibérienne) .

Oiseau 1-6: 363-377, 7: 426-437 and 8-9: 487-502

BOUET, G. (1955-1961) Oiseaux de l'Afrique tropicale. Faune de l'Union

Française XVI and XVII, ORSTOM, Paris

BOUET, G. & MILLET HORSIN, H. (1916-17) Liste des oiseaux recueillis ou

observés à la Côte d'ivoire en 1906-1907 et en 1913-1914. Rev. Fr. Orn.

4: 345-349, 371-375 and 5: 3-6

BRUNEL, J. (1955) Observations sur les oiseaux de la Basse Cote d'ivoire.

Oiseau Ro F. O. 25: 1-16

BRUNEL, J. & THIOLLAY, J.M. (1969-1970) Liste préliminaire des oiseaux

de Côte d'ivoire. Alauda 37: 230-254, 315-337 and 38: 72-73

CHAMPROUX, J. P. (1973-1974) Les oiseaux du Bord de la Lagune Ebrié.

Document pédagogique. Ecole Normale Supérieure, Abidjan, 2 parts,

115 p.

CHAPPUIS, C. (1974-1979) Illustration sonore de problèmes bidacoustiques

posés par les oiseaux de la zone éthiopienne. Alauda 42: 197-222, 43:

427-474, 46: 327-355, 47: 195-212 and 49: 35-58

COLSTON, P. R. & CURRY-LINDAHL, K. (in press) The birds of the Mount Nimba

region in Liberia. Bull. Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Zool.

DEKEYSER, P.L. (1947) Note sur quelques oiseaux peu communs de l'A.O.F.

Bull. Mus. Nat. Hist. Nat. Paris 19: 54-56

DEKEYSER, P.L. (1947) Notes d'ornithologie Ouest africaine. Bull.

IFAN, Dakar 9: 358-382

DEKEYSER, P. K. & DERIVOT, J. (1966-1968) Les oiseaux de l'Ouest africain.

3 vols. IFAN, Dakar

DEVTNEAU, J.L. (1984) Structure et dynamique de quelques forêts tropophiles

de l'Ouest africain. Thèse Doctorat, Université Paris VII

ERARD, C. & ROUX, F. (1983) La Chevêchette du Cap, Glaucidium capense dans

l'Ouest africain. Description d'une race géographique nouvelle. Oiseau

R. F. O. 53: 97-104

FGU KRONBERG (1980) Liste des oiseaux du Parc National de la Comoé, Côte

d'ivoire. Kronbercr and Abidjan

FORBES T'^TSCN, A.D. (1970) A new species of Melaenornis (Muscicapinae )

from Liberia, Bull. B.O.C. 90: 145-148

FORBES tlATSON, A.D. (1971) List of birds known to occur in Liberia (to end

of 1970) . Nimba Res. Laboratory

HAIL, B.P. & MOREAU, T?.E.' (1970) An atlas of spéciation of African

passerine birds. British Museum (Nat. Hist.) , iJDndon

INTES, A. (1970) Sur quelques Sternes européennes reprises en Côte d'ivoire

en 1967-68. Bull. IFAN 22: 479-480

INTES, A. (1971) Sternes reprises en Côte d'ivoire en 1968-69. Bull. IFAN

23: 479-480

INTES, A. (1974) Sternes reprises en Côte d'ivoire au cours des derniers

hivernages. Années 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 et 1973. Doc. Scient. Centre

Rech. Oceanogr. Abidjan V: 77-85

57

INTES, A. & STRETTA, J.M. (1979) Sternes reprises en Côte d'ivoire au

cours des hivernages 1973-74 et 1974-75. Doc. Scient. Centre Rech.

Océanogr . Abidjan X: 177-182

MOREAU, R.E. (1966) The bird faunas of Africa and its islands. Academic

Press, London

ORSTOM (1971) Le Milieu naturel de la Cote d'Ivoire. Mémoire rP 50, ORSTOM,

Paris

OUSTALET, M.E. (1897) Ids te des oiseaux rapportés du Baoulé par M.

Delafosse. Bull, Mus. Nat. Hist. Nat. Paris 3: 198-199

PARELIUS, D.A. (1967) A nest of Onychognathus morio neumanni in the Ivory

Coast. Bull. Niger. Orn. Soc. 4: 40

PAYNE, R.B. (1968) Mimicry and relationships in the Indigo birds or

Combassous of Nigeria. Bull. Niger. Orn. Soc. 5* 57-60

PFEFFER, P. (1961) Etude d'une collection d' oiseaux de Côte d'Ivoire.

Bull. Mus. Nat, Hist. Nat. Paris 33: 357~368

PFEFFER, P. (1963) Présence du Grand Moqueur à tête blanche {Phoeniculus

bollei bollei) en Cote d'ivoire. Oiseau R. F. O. 33; 69

PAYNOR, G. S. (1970) An African recovery of a North American Common Tern.

Bird Banding 41: 310-311

SCHOUTEDEN, H. & DF ROO, A. (1967) Contribution à l'étude de la faime

ornitholoaique de la Côte d'ivoire. Rev. Zool. Bot. Afr. 16 i 99-109,

200

SERLE, T'A, MORETj, G. J. & HARTfAEG, m, (1977) A field quide to the birds of

West Africa. Collins, Tjandon

SNOW, D.W. (1978) An atlas of spéciation in African non passerine birds.

British Museum (Nat. Hist.), london

THIOLLAY, J.M. (1971) Les Guêpiers et Rolliers d'une zone de contact

savane-forêt en Cote d'Ivoire. Oiseau R. F. O. 41; 148-162

Tî-IIOLIAY, J.M, (1972) L'avifaune de la région de Lamto (moyenne Cote

d'ivoire). Annales Université d*Abidjan E(IV, 1): 5-132

THIOLLAY, J.M. (1975) Les rapaces d'une zone de contact savane-forèt en

Côte d'ivoire: présentation du peuplement. Alauda 43; 75-102

THIOLLAY, J.M. (1975) Les rapaces des Parcs Nationaux de Côte d'ivoire.

Analyse du peuplement. Oiseau R. F. O. 45; 241-257

THIOLLAY, J.M. (1977) Distribution saisonnière des rapaces diurnes en

Afrique occidentale. Oiseau R. F. O. 46; 253-294

TRAYIDR, M.A. (1970) Two new birds from the Ivory Coast. Bull, B.O.C.

90; 78-80

TRAYIDR, M.A. & PARELIUS, D. (1967) A collection of birds from Ivory

Coast. Fieldiana Zool. 51; 91-117

VOISIN, J.C. (1953) Note sur la nidification en Côte d'Ivoire du Petit

Calao à bec jaune {Lophoceros semifasciatus) . Oiseau R. F. O. 23; 148

VOISIN, J.C. (1953) Sur la présence de Cinnyris mihullus en Côte d'ivoire.

Oiseau R. F. O. 23: 243

VOISIN, J.C. (1954) Sur un très curieux cas de nidification de Hirundo

leucosoma en Moyenne Côte d'ivoire. Oiseau R. F. O. 24: 282-283

58

IN/HITE, C.M. (1960-1965) Revised checklists of the Ethiopian Muscicapidae ,

African Broadbills , ... Shrikes , Flycatchers . . . and non passerine

birds. Govemt. Printer. Lusaka

lOLTERS, H.E. (1974) Aus der VogelsaimLunq des Museums Koenig. Bonn.

Zool. Beitr. 25: 283-291

Dr J.M. Thiollay, Laboratoire de Zoologie, École Normale Supérieure,

46 rue d'Ulm, 75230 Paris, France

Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus , Nigeria. Photo; Philip Blasdale

59

GAZETTEER

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RECOMMANDATIONS AUX AUTEURS

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avec illustrations. Les manuscrits doivent être dactylographiés à double

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REFERENCES A OMETTRE DANS LA BIBLIOGRAPHIE

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

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

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

London

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lon gman s , London

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

Birds of West Africa. Collins, London

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

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

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

Muscicapidae (Sylviinae) Part I Occasional papers of the National

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

birds. Lusaka : Gov. Printer,

MALIMBUS

'^61

Si rds

VOLUME

Journal of the West African Ornithological Society

Société d’Ornithologie de l’Ouest Africain

7 1985 Number 2 October

WEST AFETCAN ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

SOCIÉTÉ D’ ornitholooip: de l’ouest africain

Council 1982-1985

President Professor Brian J. Harris

Vice-President Dr Gérard J. Morel

Hon. Secretary Professor John H. Elgood

Hon. Treasurer & Membership Secretary Mr Robert E. Sharland

Managing Editor, Malimbus Dr C. Hilary Fry

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regarding all other matters

The Society grew out of the Nigerian Ornithologists' Society,- which was

founded in 1964. Its object is to promote scientific interest in the birds

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ISSN : 0331 - 3689

Emblem design by Philip Blasdale

1985

61

A NEÎ-7 SUBSPECIES OF THE PITEOUS EtARBLER

ACROCEPHALUS RUFESCENS FROM SENEGAL

by P. R. Colston and G. J. Morel

Received 21 January 1985

At Lake Guiers near Pichard-Toll , Seneaal, Acrocephalus rufescens occurs in

tlie sanie kind of Typha beds as the African Reed Uarbler A. baeticatus ,

which has recently been found to be racially distinct (Colston & Morel 1984) .

In the past, efforts to describe this most northwestern pouulation of

rufescens have suffered from a lack of conparative material (Morel & Roux

1962) . In order to establish the identity of these birds GJM was able to

collect sincfle adult females in April and December 1983 and five adult

males in April 1984. The specimens were subsequently forwarded to the

British Museum (Natural History) (BMNH) for appraisal. PRC, who examined

the series, confirmed that the birds were greyer-brown, less rufous above

than nominate rufescens and whiter below than any of the foreaoing races in

Africa, rufescens, chadensis , niloticus , foxi or ansorgei and represent a

distinct form, for which we provide the name

Acrocephalus rufescens senegalensis subsp. nov.

Holotype Adult female (in fresh plumage); I-ake Guiers, near Richard-Toll ,

Seneqal, 16^25 'N, 15°42'W, 10 December 1983. Collected by Dr G.J. Morel,

collectors number 10-2758. Lodged in the British Museum (Natural History) ,

Tring, BM. No. 1984-6-1.

Description Vlhen conpared with nominate rufescens (southern Nigeria to

northern Angola) the upperparts are greyer-brown, less rufous in appearance

and there is a distinct greyish cast to the head and nape. The ear-coverts,

sides of the head and neck are paler ash-brown and the lores are v^iter.

The underparts are also very pallid looking by comparison, even v;hiter than

the palest race chadensis . The chin and throat are pure vhite, vhile the

breast, belly and undertail coverts are off-white, or very faintly frinaed

pale buff on the flanks. Winqs and tail are slightly darker brown than

rufescens .

Colours of soft parts at time of collecting Iris chestnut, legs and feet

grey-brown, bill light brown with a paler lo\^7er mandible.

Measurements of type Wing (flattened) 74 mm, tail 66 mm, culmen from base

of skull 23 mm, tarsus 29 mm, weight 19.5 gms at time of collecting.

Breeding and distribution As this reed warbler appeared almost impossible

to secure with mist-nets GJM decided to lure them out of their recess by

using a tape recording made of the nominate form in Niaeria. The reaction

to the tape was remarkably swift, althouqh GJM soon discovered that the

size of the population vjas rather small in conparison vâth A. baeticatus

(^^hich is evidently numerous at Lake Guiers) . Judginq from the response,

one pair was found in about every 0.5-1 ha of Typha beds. The female

col lected on 26 April was in breeding condition wdth an enlarged ovary

62

P. R. Colston and G. J. Morel

MALIMBUS 7

Table 1 Measurements of Acrocephalus rufescens senegalensis and A. r.

rufescens

A. r. senegalensis A. r. rufescens

5 males 2 females 10 males 10 females

Means in parenthesis.

(ovules to 3 mn) and the fi^^e males taken between 24 and 26 April, had

enlarqed aonads (4-5 mm) , so that the species wDuld appear to have a

breeding regime similar to that of A. baeticatus , which also breeds there

in May-June and like that species, April adults show some degree of wear to

their plumage. In West Africa only two localities for A. rufescens are

shown in Hail and Moreau's Atlas (1970) : Lake Guiers, and near Dakar

(R. de Naurois, pers. comn.). The Atlas does not show any other records

west of 0*^ along the coast or between Chad and Senegal, and to the best of

our knowledge there is only one other record, of a bird caught along the

Niger in Mimosa pigra at Bamako in November (Lamarche 1981).

REFERENCES

COIETON, P.R. & MOREIj, G.J. (1984) A new subspecies of the African Reed

Warbler Acrccephalus baeticatus from SencKjal. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 104:

3-5

liAMAPCHE, B. (1^81) Liste commentée des oiseaux du Mali, deuxieme partie:

Passereaux. Malimbus 3: 73-102

MOREL, G. & ROUX, F. (1962) Données nouvelles siir l'avifaune du Senegal.

L'Oiseau et RFO 32: 28-56

P. R. Colston, British Museum (Natural History), Tring , Herts, HP 23 6AP , UK

Dr G. J. Morel, ORSTOM, BP 20, Richard Toll, Senegal

1985

63

birds in FALGORE game reserve, NIGERIA

by R. Wilkinson and R. Beecroft

Received 14 February 1985

Falqore Game Reserve, formerly Koain Kano Forest Reserve, lies in the

southernmost tonoue of Kano State, Nigeria. This tonque extends south from

a narrov7 zone of Sudan Savanna bordering Tiaa Lake beside the course of the

Kano River into the Northern Guinea Savanna that covers most of this reserve

(Fig. 1) . The Kano River flows throughout the year but its flow is

considerably increased in the rains vhich fall between April and October.

Previously estimated at 640 km^, a recent revision now indicates the game

reserve covers an area' of some 920 km^ (Yahiya Suleiman, pers. conm.) .

Between 1978 and 1983 a total of 66 visits (most for a vhole day, some

for a few hours and some includinq overnight stays) was made to the reserve.

The majority of trips included walks alona the river and its tributaries

and to inselbergs. Because of difficulty of access very fe\«7 visits were

made to the most northerly ^lrea of the reserve borderina Tiaa lake. Thus

with fev7 exceptions (notably the Black-headed Plover Vanellus tectus and the

Cut-throat Weaver Amadina fasciata, recorded only in the drier northern areas

of the reserve) our observations relate to that major area of the reserve

dcminated by Guinea Savanna.

SPECIES REPRESENTATICN

The total of 261 species recorded in the reserve is listed in Appendix I.

This is rather less than the 337 species recorded at Yankari Game Reserve

(Crick & Marshall 1981). However, Falgore covers less than half the area

of Yankari, which has been worked over a longer period by a greater number

of ornithologists. If Tiga Lake is considered as part of the Falgore

habitat complex, then the total number of species rises to 286 (see Appendix

II) , which doubtless under-represents the avian diversity of this area.

Three species observed at the southern edge of the reserve {Circus macrourus ,

Macronyx croceus, Lagonosticta rubricata) may well be expected within its

boundaries, and more mist-netting would certainly pick up additional species.

23 of the species recorded in Appendix 1 are as yet unrecorded in Yankari

and the importance of Falgore as a bird habitat should not be underestimated.

Previous lists of Kano State birds (Sharland & ^■hlkinson 1981, Wilkinson

& Aidley 1982, Beecroft & Wilkinson 1983) are up-dated by records of cuckoos

Cuculus canorus canorus and C. canorus gularis , Red-pate Cisticola Cisticcla

ruficepSf Moustached Scrub Warbler Sphenoeacus mentalis, and Wilson's

Indigobird vidua wilsoni.

SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

The monthly occurrences of most species recorded at Falgore follow those

expected according to the migratory patterns outlined in Elgood, Sharland

& Ward (1966) and Elgood, Fry & Dowsett (1973). The migratory patterns of

64

R. Wilkinson and R. Beecroft

MALMUS 7

Figure 1 Falgore Game Reserve (stippled) and Tiga Lake (hatched)

Kano State, Nigeria

Pygmy Kingfishers Ceyx picta have already been noted (Wilkinson 1982) .

Appendix I suggests that several other species, previously considered

sedentary, are highly seasonal at Falgore. IVhether the changes in

abundance at Falgore reflect the merely local movements or lonqer range

migration, remains for most species uncertain. However the considerable

reduction in numbers of Lesser Blue-eared Starlings Lamprotornis chloropterus

at Falgore in the mid-rains is well correlated with their seasonal influx

at Kano. The few records of the uncommon Spotted Creeper Salpornis spilonata

at Falgore were in June and July. Fry (1965) notes that P. Ward's two

records of the Spotted Creeper at a similar latitude at Zaria were also in

June and July; with so few records, that may be coincidental, tut the

possibility of it being migratory deserves further investigation.

1985

Falgore, Nigeria

65

ACKNCMLEDGElWrS

We are grateful to D. J. Mdley, D. O'Connor, and especially to P. E,

Shaxland for their impublished records. Special thanks are due to Alhaji

Hadi Mustafa and the staff at Falgore for their support and co-operation.

R. Wilkinson is grateful to the Department of Biological Sciences, Bayero

University, Kano for the opportunity to conduct this field study and their

provision of transport.

REFERENCES

BEECRDFT, R. & WILKINSON, R. (1983) Additions to local avifaunas: Kano

State. Mai imbus 5: 93

CRICK, H. Q. P. & MARSHALL, P. J. (1981) The Birds of Yankari Game

Reserve, Nigeria: their abondance and seasonal occurrence. Malimbus

3: 103-114

FRY, C. H. (1965) Ihe birds of Zaria. IV - Residents, vagrants, and

checklist (Passerines). Bull. Niger. Orn. Soc. 2: 91-102

SHARLAND, R. E. & VJILKINSO^, R. (1981) The birds of Kano State, Nigeria.

Malimbus 3: 7-30

WILKINSCN, R. (1982) Seasonal movements of the Pygmy Kingfisher Ceyx

picta in West Africa. Malimbus 4: 53-54, 108

raiKINSœ, R. & AIDLEY, D. J. (1982) Additions to local avifaunas: Kano

State. Malimbus 4: 107

Roger Wilkinson , North of England Zoological Society, Upton-by-Chester ,

Chester, CH2 ILH , UK

Roger Beecroft, Alcedo, Hall Lane, Witnesham , Suffolk, UK

VJhite-fronted Finch-Lark Eremopteryx nigriceps Hilary J. Welch

66

R. Wilkinson and R. Beecroft

MALIMBUS 7

APPENDIX I; MONTHLY RECORDS OF BIRDS AT FALGORE GAME RESERVE

Note - Abundance ratings although subjective attenpt to follow those in The

Birds of Africa} that is abundant = 10 - 100 daily; common = 1-10 daily;

frequent = quite often seen or heard; unooriTion = 10 or fewer in a year.

Ncxænclature and sequence follow Serle & Morel (1977) .

Podiceps ruficollis

Phalocrocorax africanus

Nycticorax nycticorax

Ardeola ralloides

A, ibis

Butorides striatus

Egretta alba

E. garzetta

Ardea cinerea

A. melanocephala

A. purpurea

Scopus umbretta

Ci coni a abdimii

C. nigra

Anastomus lamelligerus

Bostrychia hagedash

Plegadis falcinellus

Dendrocygna viduata

Sarkidiornis melanota

Trigonoceps occipitalis

Gyps bengalensis

Neophron won a chus

Gypohierax angolensis

Circus pygargus

C. aeruginosus

Polyboroides radiatus

Terathopius ecaudatus

Circaetus gallicus

C. beaudouini

C. cinereus

Accipiter badius

A. ovampensis

Melierax metabates

M. gabar

Kaupifalco monogrammicus

Months

JFMAMJJASOND

X

X X

X X X X XX

XXXXXXXXXXXX

XXXXXXXX X

X

X X X X X

X X X X XXX

XXX XX

XXXXXXX X

xxxxxxxx-xxxx

X X

X XX

X

X X

XXX

X X X X X X

Remarks

A single record

Unoonrnon

Uncorrmon

Frequent

OOTTÎTOn

Frequent/Cormon . Nest tuild-

ing 8 June 1983

A single record

Frequent/Ccmnon in late dry

season

Frequent/CCOTTTOn in dry

season

Frequent in late dry/early

rains

Frequent except late

rains

Common. One entered nest 8

June 1983

Unconmon

Unooirmon

Uncommon

A single record

Unconmon

Frequent in rains

Frequent, absent late dry

season. Adult with ten gos-

lings 20 October 1982

Unconmon

Frequent/Common . Adults at

nest site in March and April

1982

Frequent/Comnon

A single record

Unconmon in dry season

Frequent/Coirmon

Frequent/Ccmmon

Unconmon

Frequent

Uncormon

Frequent

Nigeria

67

1985

Falgore ,

Butastur rufipennis

Bvtec auguralis

Lophaetus occipitalis

Hieraaetus spilogaster

Polemaetus bellicosus

Aquila rapax

A. wahlbergi

Haliaetus vocifer

Milvus mi g ran s

Aviceda cuculoides

Elanus caeruleus

Falco biarmicus

F. subbuteo

F. chiquera

F. ardosiaceus

F. vespertinus

F. tinnunculus

Sagittarius serpentarius

Francolinus albogularis

F. bicalcuratus

Ptilopachus petrosus

Numida meleagris

Crex egregia

Liimocorax flavirostra

Gallinula chloropus

G. angulata

Podica senegalensis

Eupodotis melanogaster

Actophilornis africana

Vanellus spinosus

V. tectus

Limosa limosa

Tringa nebularia

T. glareola

T. ochropus

T. hypoleucos

Gallinagc gallinago

Himantopus himantopus

Rostratula benghalensis

Sterna nilotica

Pterocles quadricinctus

Columba guinea

JFMAMJJASOND

X

X X

X

X X

X

X X

X

X X

X

X X

X

X X

X

X X

X

X X

XXX

X

XXX

X X

X

XXX

X

X X

XXX

X X

XXX

X

XXX

X X

X

XXX

X

XXX

X

X X

X

XXX

X

X X

XXX

X XX

X

XX X

X X

X

XX X X X X

X

X X

X XX

X X X X X X X

X

X X X X

X

X XXX

XXX

X

X XX

XXX

Frequent/Cormon except mid

rains. One by nest 30 liarch

1982

Unocnmon

Frequent

Uncomnon

Uncoimon

Uncommon

A single record of an immature

Conmon except mid rains

UncomnDn

Unoommon

Uncommon

A single record

Unocmmon/Frequent

Frequent

Passage only

Frequent in late dry season

Only two records

Frequent/Unoonrnon

Common

Common. Adults with 3 young on

30 March 1982, and with a

sinale youngster on 4 April

1982

Frequent/Ccmmon

A single record

Unconmon

Single records

A single record

Frequent

Unoommon

Conmon except mid rains.

Scrape with 2 recently hatched

chicks and 2 pipping eggs 19

March 1983

A single record

Unconmon

A single record

Frequent on spring passage

Frequent/Conmon in dry season

Frequent/Common in dry season

A single record

Uncommon

A single record

Frequent. Two parties with

half-grown young on 21

December 1982. Adults with

well-grown young on 2 February

1983

Frequent except mid-rains.

Wing-clappincf display flight on

20 October 1982

68

R. Wilkinson and R. Beecroft

MAI.IMBUS 7

Streptopelia semitorguata

S. lugens

S. decipiens

S. vinacea

S. senegalensis

Oena capensis

Turtur abyssinica

Treron waalia

Poicephalus senegalus

Psittacula krameri

Musophaga violacea

Crinifer piscator

Clamator jacobinus

C. levaillantii

Cuculus solit.arius

C. canorus canorus

C. canorus gularis

Chrgsococcyx klaas

C. caprius

C. cupreus

Centropus senegalensis

Otus leucotis

Bubo africanus

Glaucidium perlatum

Caprimulgus rufigena

C. climacurus

Macrodipteryx longipennis

Apus apus

A. caffer

A. affinis

Cypsiurus parvus

Ceryle maxima

C. rudis

Alcedo cristata

Ceyx picta

Halcyon senegalensis

H. malimbica

H, chelicuti

H. leucocephala

Merops nubicus

M. pusillus

M. bullocki

M. hirundineus

Coracias abyssinica

C. naevia

C, cyanogaster

Eurystomus glaucurus

Upupa epops

JFMAMJJASOND

XXXXXXXX XX

XXXXXXXXXXXX

XXXXXXXX XX

XXXXXXXXXXXX

X X X X XXX

XXXXXXXXXXXX

XXXXXXX XX X

XXXXXXXXXXXX

XXXXXXXX XX

XXXXXXX X XX

XXXXXXXXXXXX

X

X X X X X

X XX

X X X X

XXXXXXXXXXXX

X

X X

XX XX

X

X X

XX X

X

XXX XX

X X X X X X

XXXXXXXXXXXX

X X X X X X

xxxxxxxxxxx

X X X X XX

XXX

X XX

XXXXXXXXX XX

XXXXXX XXX

X X X X XX

X X X X

XXXXXXXXXXXX

X X

XXXXXXX xxxx

XX XXX XX

X xxxx

XXXXXXX

XXXXX XXX

Conmon/Frequent

Frequent

Conmon/Atundant

Comnon

Frequent/Cornmon in dry

season

Ccpmon /Abundant

Frequent/Q3niTTOn

Conmon

Frequent

OomrnDn

Frequent in wet season

Frequent/Conrnon

A single record

Unoormon

Frequent

A single record

Unconmon

Uncommon

A single record

Frequent/Canmon in wet

season

Frequent

Common. Nest with 2 nest-

lings, 10 January 1982

Uncorrmon

Frequent

UncciTiTon

Uncorrmon/Frequent in wet

season

Uncoirmon. Courtship display,

1 July 1982

Unconmon

Frequent

Frequent except mid-rains

Frequent

Abundant. Feeding young in

nest, 16 April 1983

Unconmon

Common/Frequent. Inmature

bird, 21 June 1980

Frequent

Uncommon

Frequent/ODirmon in wet

season

Frequent/Ccmmon in dry

season

A single record

One record

1985

Falgore, Nigeria

69

Phoeniculus purpureus

P. aterrimus

Tockus nasutus

T. erythrorhynchus

Bucorvus abyssinicus

Lybius dubius

L. leucocephalus

L. vieilloti

Pogoniulus chrysoconus

Indicator indicator

I. minor

Campethera punctuligera

Dendropicos fuscescens

Dendrocopus obsoletus

Mesopicos goertae

Mirafra javanica

W. rufocinnamomea

M. nigricans

Eremopterix leucotis

Galerida cristata

G. modesta

Hirundo rustica

H. smithii

H. aethiopica

H. leucosoma

H. senegalensis

H, daurica

H. abyssinica

H. griseopyga

H, fuligula

Delichon urbica

Psalidoprocne obscura

Motacilla flava

Anthus cervinus

Prionops plumata

Nilaus afer

Dryoscopus gambensis

Tchagra minuta

T. senegala

Laniarius barbarus

Malaconotus sulfureopectus

M. blanchoti

Corvinella corvina

Oriolus auratus

Dicrurus adsimilis

Lamprotornis purpureus

L. chloropterus

JFMAMJJASOND

XXXXXXXXXXXX

XX XXXXXXXXX

XXXXXXXXXXXX

XXXXX X xxxx

X X

XXXXXXXXXXXX

X XX

XXXXXXXX XX

xxxxxxxx

X XXX X

X X

XXXXXXX X XX

X

X xxxx

X XXXXXXX X

X

xxxx

X

XXX XXX

X

X X

XXX X xxxxxx

XXXXX

X xxxx X XXX

XXX X

X XX

XXXXX

xxxx XXXXX

X xxxxxxxx

X

XXXXX X

xxxx XX

X

XXXXXXXXX XX

xxxxxxxx XX

X XX XXX

XX X

XXXXXXXXXXXX

XXXXXXXX X

XXX X

XX X

XXXXXXXXX XX

XXXXX X XX

XXXXXXXXXXXX

XXXXXX XXX

COTTTün. One carrying food on

14 March 1982

Frequent

Comnon

Frequent

ITncoimon

Frequent/Common

Uncorrmon

Frequent

Frequent except early dry

season

Frequent/Unccmmcn

Uncommon

Frequent

A single record

Uncoinnon

Frequent

A single record

Unooirmon

A single record

Coimion/Frequent in dry

season

A single record

Uncormion. On passage

Frequent. Nest building 15

February 1981 and 21 March

1981

Frequent in late dry season.

Nest with 3 eggs, 16 May

1982

Frequent

Frequent in wet season

Unoonmon

Frequent tut seasonal

Frequent/Conroon hut seasonal

Carrying grass into holes in

ground on 29 November and 6

December 1981

Frequent

Single record

Frequent in wet season

Frequent in dry season

A single record

Frequent/Coimon . Nest with

2 nestlings, 21 March 1981

Frequent

Frequent/Uncormon

Uncommon

Coimon/Frequent

Frequent/Camon

Uncorrmon

Coimion/ Frequent

Frequent

Frequent/ComTOn

Cortmon

Abundant except mid rains.

Nestlings 29 April 1982,

Recent fledalinqs 20 May

1982.

70

R. Wilkinson and R. Beecroft

MALIMBUS 7

L. chalcurus

L. caudatus

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

Buphagus africanus

Ptilostomus afer

Corvus albus

Coracina pectoralis

Campephaga phoenicea

Pycnonotus barbatus

Chlorocichla flavicollis

Saxicola rubetra

Oenanthe oenanthe

Oenanthe bottae

Cercomela familiar is

Myrmecocichla

cinnamomei ventri s

M. albifrons

Mopticola saxatilis

Phoenicurus phoenicurus

Cossypha niveicapilla

Luscinia megarhynchos

Turdus pelios

Turdoides plebejvs

T. reinwardii

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

A. scirpaceus

Sphenoeacus mentalis

Hippolais polyglotta

H. pallida

Sylvia communis

Phylloscopus trochilus

Cisticola cantans

C. erythrops

C. natalensis

C. ruficeps

C. juncidis

Prinia subflava

Camaroptera brachyura

Eremomela pusilla

Sylvietta brachyura

Muscicapa striata

M. aquatica

Ficedula hypoleuca

Melaenornis edolioides

Bradornis pallidus

JFMAMJJASOND

X

X XX XX

XXX

X X

XXXXXXXX XXX

X X X X X XX

X X

X X X X X X X

xxxxxxxxxxxx

X X

X XXX

XX .XX

X X X X X X

XXXXX X X X

X X X X

X XXXXXXX X

X X

X

X X

XXXXXXXX

XXX XXXXX XX

XXXXX X

XXX

X X

X

X X

X XX

XXX X

X X

XXXXXXXXX X

XX X

XXXXXXXXX XX

X XXXXX

X

X XXXXX

X X XXX XX

Single record

Frequent

ITncommon, highly seasonal

Uncoimon, associated with

Fulani cattle

Canron. Red-billed imnatures

January, March, May, June

and October

Frequent

Uncommon

Frequent in wet season

Common/Abundant

ITncommon

Uncommon

Frequent/Corrmon in dry

season. Nest building 15

February 1981. Song display

flight 2 February 1983,

immatures 14 May 1983

Unoorrmon/Frequent . Nestlings

20 May 1982. Adults carrying

food 3 January and 19 March

1983.

Freguent except dry season

vjhen absent or overlooked?

Frequent. Song and wing-

flicking display 21 March

1981. Immature 10 June 1979.

Uncommon

Single record

Uncommon

Unoonmon

Frequent

Frequent/Common

Uncommon/Frequent

Uncommon

Uncorrmon

Uncommon

Uncoirmon

Frequent by song in rains

Siaht records require

confirmation

Uncommon

Frequent

Uncommon

Frequent

FYequentA^ncommon

A single record

Frequent

Frequent A incommon

1985

Falgore, Nigeria

71

J F M A M

J J A S 0 N D

Hyliota flavigaster

Batis senegalensis

Terpsiphone viridis

Parus leucomelas

Remiz parvulus

Salpornis spilonota

Anthreptes longuemarei

A. platura

Nectarinia senegalensis

N. venusta

N. cuprea

N. pulchella

Zosterops senegalensis

Emberiza cabanisi

E, forbesi

E. tahapisi

Serinus mozambicus

S. leucopygius

Ploceus luteolus

P. heuglini

P. cucullatus

Malimbus rubriceps

Euplectes macrourus

E. hordeaceus

E. orix

Plocepasser superciliosus

Passer griseus

Petrcnia dentata

Sporopipes frontalis

Vidua macroura

V. chalybeata

V. wilsoni

XXX X

X XXXXXXX X

X X X X X X

X XXXXXXX XX

X

X X

XX X

X X X X X XX

XXXXXXXXX XX

XXX XX X

X X X X

X X X X X

X XXXXXXX X

X X X X X

X XX

xxxxxx xxxx

xxxxxxxxxxxx

X XX

xxxxxx .

XX X

X X X X X X

X XXX XXX

X

xxxxxx

X X X X X

XXX XX

X XX

X xxxx

X X X X X

X X

XXX X

xxxx

xxxxxx

X X

xxxx

X X X X X

X X

XXXXXX

X

X X X X X

UncQmmon

Fregiient/IJncormiDn

Frequent in wet season

Frequent. Nestlinqs

12 April 1979. Adult

carrying food 21 March

1981 .

Uncomron

UncCTumon

Uncommon

Frequent in dry season

Frequent/Comnon

TTncommon

Frequent in wet season

Frequent in late dry

season

Frequent

Uncommon. Song 16 January

1983.

UnccîTTnon

Frequent/Common except

wettest months

Frequent

Uncoimion

Frequent. Nest b.iilding

I July 1982.

Uncommon in Reserve.

Larqe colony at Pest

House. Nest building

II May 1983.

Frequent/Ccmmon v^en

nesting. Nest building

14 May 1983.

Frequent. Nestlings

12 April 1979. Nest

building 27 May 1978,

25 March 1982, 29 April

1982.

Frequent/Ccmmon

Frequen t/Common

Coimon /Abundant

Uncarmon

Frequent

Common /Abundant except

mid rains. Adult carrying

food 20 April 1983.

Uncommon

Frequent

One white-billed, pale-

legged, purple qlossed

male in song. Other pale-

winged indigo birds were

seen but not identified

to species

Frequently seen vhen in

breeding dress

V. orientalis

72

R. Wilkinson and R. Beecroft

MALIMBUS 7

Nesocharis capistrata

Amadina fasciata

Pytilia phoenicoptera

Estrilda melpoda

E. troglodytes

E. caerulescens

E. bengala

E. larvata

Lagonosticta senegala

L. rufopicta

L. Tara

Lonchura malabarica

L. cucullata

JFMAMJJASOND

X X

X

XXX XX

XXXXXX XX

X X

X

XXXXXXXX XX

XXXXXXXXX X

XXXXXXXXX XX

XX XX X XXX

XXX XXXX X

X

XXXXXXXX X

Unoonmon

A single record

Frequent in dry season

Frequent

UncOOTTon

A single record

Frequent/Camion

Frequent

Comrcn

Frequent

Uncommon

Frequent/Common

APPENDIX II: SPECIES RECORDED AT TIGA LAKE

RUT NOT IN FALGOPE GAME RESERVE

Egretta intermedia , Threskiornis aethiopica , Plectropterus gambensis , Anas

acuta, A. clypeata , A, querquedula , Pandion haliaetus , Circaetus cinerascens ,

Falco alopex , Charadrius alexandrinus , C. dubius, C. pecuarius , C. hiaticula ,

Pluvialis squatarola , Tringa stagnatalis , T. totanus , Calidris alpina,

C. ferruginea , C. minuta, Philomachus pugnax , Larus ridibundus , L. cirrocephalus ,

Riparia riparia, Lanius collurio isabellinus , L. senator, Spreo pulcher,

Acrocephalus arundinaceus ,

Crovïïied Cranes Balearica pavonina near Firgoun, Nicer (see p. 79)

(Photo: R.A. Cheke) .

1985

73

BIRD RECORDS FROM THE REPUBLIC OF NIGER

by R)bert A. Cheke, J. Frank Walsh and Linœln D.C. Fishpool

Received 22 August 1985

2

The Republic of Niger is a huge country, enconpassing 1,187,000 km of West

Africa. Most is desert, the remainder sahel apart from some sudan savanna

vcîgetation in the south-west. Sites of especial ornithological iirportance

include the Air massif (the birds of v^ich have been described by Villiers,

1950, and Bruneau de Mire, 1957) the W National Park, and a corner of Lake

Chad. The W National Park is shared by three countries; it includes parts

of eastern Burkina Faso and northern Benin. Grettenberger (1984) recently

described the Niger part of the park, with a plea for urgent assistance to

maintain conservation v^rork there. The birds of the Niger section of the

park have been documented by Roster & Grettenberger (1983). Niger is also

known as the winter quarters of many species of Palaearctic migrants and

part of the routes of many more. Migrant birds in the Sahara desert have

been discussed by Pettet (1984) in a volume which also includes an article

by Casselton (1984) on birds breeding in the Sahara.

Banneman (1931) listed the birds collected in Niger by Bates, who

later described his pioneering voyages and the birds he encountered (Bates

1933, 1934a, b, c, d) . Other contributions are by Hartert (1921, 1924),

Paludan (1936), Rousselot (1947), Douaud (1955), Koenig (1956), Heu (1961),

Fairon (1971 , 1975), Haas (1974), and Pfriehm (1981). Prorrpted by the

request of Giraudoux (1984) , we present here a oonpilation of the birds we

have seen in Niger during a series of visits and residences between 1967 and

1984. Most of the records are from the south-western comer of the country,

since the work which took us to Niger required travel between the Mali border

close to the Niger River and along its course to the frontier with Benin.

However, some birds være seen during field work elsewhere, including brief

journeys bo Agadez and the Tahoua and M.aradi regions described by Chel'îe

et al. (1980) , a paper in which a few bird records were mentioned.

In the list which follows the nomenclature and sequence are those of

Hall & Moreau (1970) and Snow (1978). Co-ordinates of localities mentioned

are listed and some sites are depicted on the map (Fig. 1) .

STRUTHiœiDAE

Struthio camelus Ostrich Not seen by us. Ostriches were cxommon in northern

Niger until the mid 1960's vshen parties of 30 or 40 birds were to be seen in

the area of the Falaise de Tiguigit, south of Agadez (G.B. Popov, pers. oonm.).

Current status unknown: ruiroured to te present still, but rare.

MHINGIDI^F

Anhinga rufa African Darter One at Niamey in Aug 1967.

74

R. A. Cheke, J. F. Walsh & L.D.C. Fishpool

MALIMBUS 7

Figure 1 Map and gazetteer of Niger

1985

Republic of Niger

75

PHALACROœRACIDAE

Phalacrocorax africanus Reed Cormorant A few near Niamey in Aug 1967,

June and July 1977. Also noted near Tapoa in Apr 1977 and at Gaya in June

1977. A juvenile at Firgoun in Sept 1984.

PELECANIDAE

Pelecanus rufescens Pink-backed Pelican Three on the Niger at 12°20'N on

5 Apr 1977.

ARDEIDAE

Nycticorax nycticorax Black-crowned Night Heron Near Tapoa on 4 Apr 1977

and 40 near Tillabery on 21 Sept 1984.

Bubulcus ibis Cattle Egret Abundant along the Niger between Gaya and

Gotheye from June until Oct. In Aug 1967 a large breeding colony was seen

near Niamey, amongst which Abdim's Storks Ciconia abdimii and Village

Weavers Ploceus cucullatus vjere also breeding. On 3 Oct 1977 about 50 were

seen feeding on the grasshopper Oedaleus senegalensis at Maradi (Cheke et al.

1980) ; next day four were seen flying, at midday with their bills open, near

Issawan. Many more probable migrants were seen on the next day; 250 at a

water-hole 40 km north of Zinder, 20 near Tanout and 10 at an oasis 130 km

south of Agadez. On 23 Sept 1984 one at Ayorou was seen eating a toad.

Ardeola ralloides Squacco Heron Three near Niamey on 18 June 1977, a few

in the Tapoa area in Apr 1977 and June 1984 and many in the Say reuion in

Sept 1984.

Butorides striatus Little Green Heron One near Niamey in Aua 1967 and

June 1977. Seen in the Tapoa area in Apr 1977, June and July 1984.

Egretta garzetta Little Egret Twenty six at Bose Bangou on 1 1 July 1984.

Single birds beside the Niger during 1984 at Gotheye (11 Aug), near Sagafondo

(19 Sept) and near Ayorou (23 Sept) .

E. intermedia Yellow-billed Egret One near Niamey on 12 Aug 1984.

E. alba Great hliite Ecrret Abundant along the Niger and other rivers as

far north as Tillabery. More than 2,000 including flocks of 300 and 500

between Tapoa and the Nigerian border in Apr 1977. One near Zinder on 4 Oct

1977 and another at Ayorou on 23 Sept 1984.

Ardea cinerea Grey Heron Abundant along the Niger and other rivers. More

than 1,000 including flocks of 200 between Tapoa and the Nigerian frontier

on 5 Apr 1977.

A. purpurea Rirple Heron In 1984 near Yeri on 6 June (one bird) , pairs

at Say on 19 Sept, near Ayorou on 23 Sept and a singleton near Tillabery

on 21 Sept.

A. goliath Goliath Heron One near Bikini in Sept 1984.

A, melanocephala Black -heade?d Heron A few alona the Niger from Gaya to

Ayorou during wet seasons. A small breeding colony at Gaya in June 1977.

76

R. A. Cheke, J. F. Walsh & L.D.C. Fishpool

MALIMBUS 7

SCOFIDAE

Scopus umbretta Hammerkop Near Tapoa in Apr 1977 and Sept 1984 and near

Yeri in June 1984.

CICOIIIDAE

Ciconia ciconia kliite Stork One 40 km north of Abalak on 7 Oct 1977 and

tvÆ) 10 km north-v;est of Niamey on 20 Sept 1984, Giraudoux (1978) described

a site 18 km east of Zinder where 500-600 used to over-winter and vAiere they

fell prey to trappers. One of two ringed birds he found had been marked as

a nestling in Morocco.

c, abdimii Abdim's Stork In Aug 1967 the species was common in Niamey

and nested in dead trees in the city, where a pair was also seen building

on 11 July 1984. On 12 June 1977 one was carrying food near Niamey and at

least three pairs were nesting in a large tree beside the Niger at Say. to

21 June 1977 a pair was nesting 10 m up in a Baobab tree there, but none

remained by 29 Oct. Earlier, probable migrants had been seen as follows:

many flocks of 50 to 100 birds at water-holes near Zinder on 4 Oct, more

than fifty 40 km north of Zinder the next day and a flock of 250 flying east

8 km west of Bimi N'konni on 9 Oct and 60 soaring in a thermal 2 km away.

In July 1978 several active nests were seen between Tillabery and Ayorou.

Earliest record at Niamey was tvro on 29 T^r 1978 and the latest was four at

the airport on 2 Oct 1977. Other possible migrants include 15 near Konparti

on 19 Sept 1984, 3 at Garbey-Kourou on 21 Sept 1984, a single bird at Ayorou

on 22 Sept 1984 and a flock of 100 at 13°40'N, 1®35'E in the Sirba valley on

2 Oct 1976,

C. episcopus Woolly-necked Stork A few pairs in the Sirba valley at

13°15'N in Oct 1976. Comron along the Niger between Tapoa and the Nigerian

frontier in Apr 1977.

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis Saddlebill Stork A pair in the Sirba valley

at 13°10'N, 01*^1 0'E on 2 Oct 1976. An adult and an iirmature near Yeri on

5 ^r 1977 and one there on 6 June 1984.

Leptoptilos crumeniferus Marabou Stork More than 20 near Tapoa on 5 Apr

1977.

Mycteria ibis Yellow-billed Stork Five beside the Niger between Tapoa

and the Nigerian frontier on 5 Apr 1977.

THRESKIORNITHIDAE

Threskiornis aethiopica Sacred Ibis to 19 Dec 1976 between 50 and 100

birds roosted on an island in the Niger a few km south of Niairey, toe 10 ]<m

south of Tanout on 5 Oct 1977. Tvxj near Tillatery and 3 near Ayoroy on 21

Sept 1984. Ten near Ayorou on 23 Sept 1984.

Bostrychia hagedash Hadada toe near Yeri on 5 Apr 1977 and 6 June 1984.

toe at Tapoa on 4 Apr 1977 and another near Ayorou on 23 Sept 1984.

Plegadis falcinellus Glossy Ibis toe south of Ayorou on 2 Aug 1978 and 7

flying south at Tounga on 19 Sept 1984.

1985

Republic of Niger

77

;\NATIDAE

Dendrocygna bicolor Fulvous Whistling Duck Ten near Niamey on 31 July

1977.

D. viduata Wliite-faced I^Jhistling EXick Coimon along the Niger from the

Nigerian border to Ayorou.

Anas acuta Pintail Pour south of Say on 19 Sept 1984 and two near

Tillabery on 21 Sept 1984.

Plectropterus gambensis Spur-winged Goose Common along the Niger from

Gaya to Ayorou. One at Dogondoutchi in Aug 1977.

Sarkidiornis melanotos Knob-billed Goose Singles near Gaya in Apr and

June 1977 and 25 near Niamey in July 1977.

ACCIPITRIDAE

Gypohierax angolensis Palm-nut Vulture One east of Tapoa at 11°48'N, in

Apr 1977 and in Sept 1984.

Gyps rueppellii Ruppell's Griffon Vulture One at Niamey in Aug 1967.

One in the Sirba valley at 13*^10'N, 01*^30 'E in Oct 1976. Ten feeding on a

freshly-dead donkey 30 km north of Bakin Birji on 5 Oct 1977 and ten 40 km

north of T^lak on 7 Oct 1977. Two in the Yeri region in June 1984. One

north of Tounga and another near Meana in Sept 1984.

G. africanus White-backed Vulture One near Tapoa in Apr 1977 and two near

Yeri in June 1984.

Necrosyrtes monachus Hooded Vulture Common in small numbers at Niamey in

Aug 1967. In 1977 recorded from Bimi N'konni, Tapoa, Torodi and Zinder.

Seen near Tounga and at Torodi in 1984.

Terathopius ecaudatus Bateleur One at Tapoa in Apr 1977. One 120 km

south-west of Niamey in Aug 1977, Three near Yeri in June 1984 and one at

Tapoa in July 1984.

Circus sp. Harrier A ringtail near Ayorou on 23 Sept 1984.

Circaetus cinereus Brown Snake Eagle One south of Yeri on 6 June 1984.

Accipiter badius Shikra Common at Niamey in Aug 1967 and one near there

in July 1977 and in Aug 1984. One near Dogondoutchi in Aug 1977 and another

40 km north of Gaya in Aug 1984.

Melierax metabates Dark Chanting Goshavdc One 32 km south of Niamey in

Aug 1967. Singles at EXDgondoutchi in Aug 1977 and Tagalal in Oct 1977. One

near Garbey-Kourou in Aug and Sept 1984.

Micronisus gabar Gabar Goshav^ One near Tillabery in July 1978.

Kaupifalco monograimicus Lizard Buzzard Often seen between Gaya and

Dos so.

78

R. A. Cheke, J. F. Walsh & L.D.C. Fishpool

MALBIBUS 7

Buteo auguralis Red-tailed Buzzard One near Tagalal on 8 Oct 1977, tvro

near Dosso on an unrecorded date and one 40 km west of Garbey-Kourou on 19

Sept 1984.

Butastur rufipennis Grasshopper Buzzard One at Tapoa on 4 Apr 1977. One

near Illela on 14 Auq 1977. Two near Bakin Birji on 5 Oct 1977. Two 20 km

south of Tahoua on 9 Oct 1977. Conmon in Niger between Gaya and Dosso on

10 Aug 1984, a date when none had been seen in Benin on the way north. One

at Garbey-Kourou on 19 Sept 1984.

Polemaetus bellicosus Martial Eagle One at Tapoa in T^r 1977 and another

50 km south of Bani-Bangou in Sept 1977.

Aquila rapax Tawny Eagle One near Yeri in June 1984.

Haliaetus vocifer African Eish Eagle Tvo beside the Niger (one near Tapoa

and the other south of Say) and two beside the Sirba river (one at Kakou and

another 45 km west of Garbey-Kourou) on 19 Sept 1984. One beside the Faga

river near Alfassi the next day.

Milvus migrans Black Kite The earliest record at Niamey was 18 June 1977

and the latest a group of 50 at the airport on 2 Oct 1976. However on 9

Oct 1977 six w^re seen 100 km south of Tahoua. The day before some were

seen near Tagalal feeding on the grasshopper Oedaleus senegalensis and the

species was also noted 50 km north of Tahoua. Other northern records include

a dozen at Ayorou on 19 July 1978 and one there on 22 Sept 1984.

Elanus caeruleus Black -shouldered Kite Three in the Niamey area in Aug

1967 and one on 12 June 1977. Recorded from Gaya on 21 June 1977 and 10 Aug

1984. One 30 km south of Tanout on 5 Oct 1977 and another near Taaalal on

8 Oct 1977.

FALOONIDAE

Falco peregrinus Peregrine

F. biarmicus banner Ealcon

there in Sept 1984.

F. ardosiaceus Grey Kestrel

One near Garbey-Kourou on 11 Aug 1984.

A pair at Ayorou in July 1978 and a male

One at Tapoa in Apr 1977.

SAGITTARIIDAE

Sagittarius serpentarius Secretary Bird One 30 km south of Bani-Bangou

in Sept 1977.

PHASIANIDAE

Francolinus bicalcaratus Double-spurred Francolin Near Niamey in June

and July and at Tapoa in Apr 1977.

Ptilopachus petrosus Stone Partridge At Tapoa in Apr 1977.

1985

Republic of Niger

79

NITMIDIDAE

Numida meleagris Helmeted Guineafowl Abundant between EXdsso and Gaya in

June 1977. Also recorded from Tapoa in Apr and Dogondoutchi in Aug 1977.

HELIORNITHIDAE

Podica senegalensis Finfoot One in the Sirba river close to the border

with Burkina Faso, west of Kakou on 20 Sept 1984.

GRUIDAE

Balearica pavonina Crowned Crane Uie only record away

from water was of two birds seen 40 km north of Abalak on 7 Oct 1977. In

1978 about 20 roosted ,in trees at Famale, south of Ayorou, on 15 May and one

was seen 14 km north of Ayorou on 17 July. The healthy state of the species'

populations along the Niger was confirmed on 21 Sept 1984 when 86 were

counted between Gotheye and Ayorou. A pair near Bose Bangou in July and

Sept 1984 and up to 11 at Torodi, also in Sept 1984. One in the W National

Park in June and Sept 1984.

OTIDIDAE

Eupodotis melanog aster Black -bellied Bustard Singles 80 km south-west

of Niamey on 28 Aug 1977 and 15 km north of Gaya on 10 Aug 1984.

Otis arabs Arabian Bustard A pair near Kakou on 19 Sept 1984.

JACANIDAE

Actophilornis af ricana Jacana Very conmon beside the Niger in Aug 1967,

when a flock of 200 were seen near Niamey. Scattered records from the

Nigerian frontier to Ayorou in subsequent years.

BURHINIDAE

Burhinus senegalensis Senegal Thick-knee One near Illela in Aug 1977 and

ten on an island in the Niger in the Niamey area in Sept 1984.

CHARADRIIDAE

Vanellus albiceps Black-shouldered Wattled Plover Thirty near Niamey in

Aug 1967. Also near Tapoa in Pp>r 1977, south of Yeri at 12°12'N in June

1984 and near Gotheye in Aug 1984.

y. senegallus Senegal V7attled Plover Seen near Tapoa in July 1984.

y. spinosus Spur-winged Plover CoiTmon beside the Niger from the Nigerian

frontier to Ayorou. Probably bred near Niamey in June and July 1977 when a

pair were seen bleating, defending territories and mobbing Black Kites

{Milvus migrans) and Abdim's Storks [Ciconia abdimii) . Also noted 10 km

north of Tanout and 120 km south of Agadez on 5 Oct 1977 and one at Abalak

tvxD days later.

80

R. A, Qieke, J. F. Walsh & L.D.C. Fishpœl

MALIMBUS 7

V. tectus Black-headed Plover Several at Niamey airport on 2 Oct 1976

and one there on 11 July 1984. At least three pairs near Illela on 13

Auq 1977.

Charadrius marginatus White-fronted Sand Plover One near Niamey on 31

July 1977.

SCOLOPACIDAE

Tringa ergthrops Spotted Redshank Tvæ) near Firgoun on 23 Sept 1984.

T. nebular ia Greenshank One near Firgoun on 23 Sept 1984.

T. hypoleucos Common Sandpiper Beside the Niger River between the Nigerian

frontier and Tapoa in Apr 1977. Singletons also at Tapoa and along the

Niger as far north as Ayorou in Aug and Sept 1984.

Philomachus pugnax Ruff Thirty flying north along the Niger near Gotheye

on 11 Aug 1984 and 43 seen in the Firgoun area on 23 Sept 1984.

Limosa limosa Black-tailed Godvn.t About 50, beside the Niger, near Gaya

on 5 Apr 1977.

RECURIVORI STRIDAE

Himantopus himantopus Black -winged Stilt One 10 km north of Tanout on 5

Oct 1977.

ROSTRATULIDAE

Rostratula benghalensis Painted Snipe A pair at Tapoa on 5 Ppr 1977

GLAREOLIDAE

Pluvianus aeggptius Egyptian Plover Common beside the Niger from the

Nigerian frontier to Ayorou.

Cursorius cursor Cream-coloured Courser One 50 km west of Aaadez on 7

Oct 1977.

Glareola pratincola Common Pratincole About 20 beside the Niger River

between the Nigerian frontier and Tapoa on 5 Apr 1977. Ten hawk;ing at

dusk at Ayorou on 21 Sept 1984 and 79 counted near Firgoun two days later.

Sixty-nine of these were in a single group, settling to roost on an island

in the middle of the river.

G. nuchalis Rock Pratincola Six on a rocky islet between Ayorou and

Firgoun on 23 Sept 1984.

G. cinerea Grey Pratincole Several beside the Niger between the Nigerian

frontier and Tapoa on 5 Apr 1977.

1985

Republic of Niger

81

LARIDAE

Hydroprogne tschegrava Caspian Tem One near Gaya on 5 Apr 1977.

Sterna albifrons Little Tem One at Gaya on 21 June 1977.

S. leucoptera White-winged Black Tem Three flying north up the Niger at

Nianey on 12 Aug 1967 and seven north of Ayorou on 23 Sept 1984.

Rhynchops flavirostris African Skinmer Sixteen flying north up the Niger

at Niamey on 11 Aug 1967 and two flocks seen along the same river between

Tapoa and the Nigerian frontier on 5 Apr 1977.

PTEROCLIDIDAE

Pterocles exustus Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse Near Agadez on 7 Oct 1977.

P. guadricinctus Four-banded Sandgrouse Pairs at Tapoa on 4 Apr 1977 and

19 Sept 1984. Also near Niamey in June and July 1977.

COLIMBIDAE

Columba guinea Speckled Pigeon Conmon at Niamey. Also noted at Bimi

N'konni^ Garbey-Kourou , Ayorou and Tapoa.

Streptopelia vinacea Vinaceous Turtle Dove At Tapoa in Apr 1977, Gaya in

June 1977 and Tounga in Sept 1984.

5. roseogrisea Pink-headed Dove Garbey-Kourou and Ayorou in Sept 1984.

Bates (1934b) recorded the species at Say.

S. decipiens MDuming Collared Dove At Niamey in Aug 1967 and July 1977.

S. semitorguata Red-eyed Turtle Dove At Niamey in Aug 1967 and at Tapoa

in Apr 1977.

S. senegalensis Laughing Dove Recorded at Ayorou, Dogondoutchi , Gaya,

Niamey and Tapoa.

Turtur abyssiniens Black-billed ftood Dove At Niamey in Aug 1967 and June

1977. At Gaya in June 1977.

Oena capensis Masked Etove Recorded from Tapoa (5 1977) , Niarrey (18

June 1977) , Dogondoutchi (15 Aug 1977) , 45 km north of Bakin Birji (5 Oct

1977), 150 km south of Agadez (5 Oct 1977), Tillabery (15 July 1978),

Garbey-Kourou (19 Sept 1984) and Ayorou (21 Sept 1984).

Treron waalia Yellow-belli«l Fruit Pigeon At Tapoa on 5 Apr 1977.

PSITTACIDAE

Poicephalus senegalus Senegal Parrot At TafX)a in Apr 1977 and at Gaya in

Aug 1977.

82

R. A. Cheke, J. F. Walsh & L.D.C. Fishpool

MALIMBUS 7

Psittacula krameri Rose-ringed Parakeet At Gaya in June 1977 and Aug 1984

and at Yeri in June 1984.

MUSOPHAGIDAE

Crinifer piscator Grey Turaœ One 40 km south-west of Niamey in Oct 1977,

two at Gaya in Sept 1978 and at Yeri in June 1984.

CUCULIDAE

Clamator glandarius Great Spotted Cuckoo Singles at Niamey on 11 Aug

1967 and Garbey-Kourou on 19 Sept 1984.

C. jacobinus Pied Crested Cuckoo One at Niamey on 12 Aug 1967 and two at

Gaya on 21 June 1977.

C. levaillantii Strip)ed Cuckoo One at Niamey on 31 July 1977.

Cuculus gularis Grey Cuckoo At Yeri on 6 June 1984.

Centropus senegalensis Senegal Coucal At Niamey in June-Aug 1977, Gaya

(June 1977) , Reylande (July 1977) and Tapoa (T^r 1977) .

CAPPIMULGIDAE

Caprimulgus climacurus Long-tailed Nightjar Many flushed from the main

Niamey-Ouagadougou road, on both sides of the Burkina Faso border on 28 July

1977.

Macrodiptergx longipennis Standard-vinged Nightjar 7\bout 40 at Niamey

airport on 19 Dec 1969 (D.J. & Y.C. Cheke, pers. conm.). Three of 20 night-

jar corpses examined near Gaya on 10 Aug 1984 were of this species.

APODIDAE

Telacanthura ussheri Mottled Spinetail Seen at Yeri on 6 June 1984.

Cypsiurus parvus Palm Swift Recorded from Ayorou, Gaya, Niamey and Tapoa.

Apus apus European Swift One at Illela on 13 Aug 1977, one at Gotheye on

11 Aug 1984, two at Garbey-Kourou on 21 Sept 1984 and six at Ayorou two

days later.

A. af finis Little Swift Conmon at Niamey in Aug 1967. Also seen at Zinder

(Oct 1977) , Yeri (June 1984) eind Ayorou (Sept 1984) .

COLIIDAE

Colius macrourus Blue-naped Mousebird One at Ayorou in July 1978 and five

there in Sept 1984.

1985

Republic of Niger

83

ALCEDINIDAE

Ceryle maxima Giant Kingfisher One at Tapoa on 5 Apr 1977.

C. rudis Pied Kingfisher Comnon along the banks of the Niger from Gaya

to Ayorou. One at a lake 30 km south of Tahoua in Oct 1977.

Alcedo cristata Malachite Kingfisher Singles at Tapoa on 5 Apr 1977 and

Gaya on 21 June 1977.

Halcyon leucocephala Grey-headed Kingfisher Singles at Niamey on 13 Aug

1967, 12 and 18 June 1977 and 11 July 1977. One near Bimi N'konni on 15

Aug 1977.

H. malimbica Blue-breasted Kingfisher One at Tapoa on 5 T^r 1977.

MEROPIDAE

Merops bulocki Red-throated Bee-eater Singles at Tapoa in J^r 1977, Gaya

in June 1977 and at Ayorou in July 1978.

M. pusillus Little Bee-eater Ccmmon near Niamey in Aug 1967. Six there

on 12 June 1977 and present also on 18 June, 11 and 31 July and 12 Oct, v;hen

one was netted. The bird's wing length was 73 irm, it was in wing moult,

weighed 14.9 g and no parasites were found in a smear of its blood (Pierce

1984) . On 23 Sept 1984 ten or more roosted in thick vegetation beside the

Niger at Ayorou.

M. orientalis Little Green Bee-eater Singles at Tapoa (Apr 1977) , Niamey

(Aug 1977), Bimi N'konni (Aug 1977) and six at Ayorou (Sept 1984).

M. albicollis V'Thite-throated Bee-eater Two at Niamey on 6 Aug 1977 and

three separate birds near In Gall on 7 Oct 1977.

M. nubicus Ca2nnine Bee-eater At Tapoa on 5 Apr 1977. Hundreds going to

roost in parties of 20 or 30 at Famale on 21 May 1977. Connnon at Gaya on 21

June 1977. In 1977 the population foraging from telephone wires beside the

road between Dogondoutchi and Bimi N'konni was censused four times: 698

were counted on 12 Aug, 702 on 15 Aug but only 121 on 2 Oct and 139 on 9 Oct.

The Oct birds were all in the section nearest Bimi N'konni. In July 1977

the species was abundant between Tillabery and Ayorou, where a flock was

seen feeding on first and second instar nynphs of the grasshopper Oedaleus

senegalensis (Cheke et al. 1980). One near Torodi on 20 Sept 1984 and at

Yeri on 6 June 1984. Beside the Mekrou river at 12°05'N a colony of more

than 500 holes, the highest concentration of M. nubicus ever seen by the

observer (J.F.W.) , was found on 6 June 1984. Another big colony was seen on

the same date beside the Mekrou at 1l059'N, which is probably the one listed

in appendix 4 of Fry (1984) . On the basis that observers travel by road

and in the dry season. Fry surmised that his appendix probably listed only

10% of the true number of colonies and estimated that the total population in

Africa could be as much as 5 million. Both R.A.C. and J.F.W. have surveyed

many rivers in West Africa by air and from the ground in the wet season

and have not found many unknown colonies, upon which basis we consider Fry's

figure likely to be an over-estimate.

84

R. A. Cheke, J. F. Walsh & L.D.C. Fishpœl

MALIMBUS 7

œRACIIDAE

Coiacias abyssinica Abyssinian Roller Cormion near Niamey in Aug 1967.

In 1977 they v^ere also cxjmmon there in June but had disappeared in mid-July.

Other records from Gaya (21 June and 10 Aug 1984 - the latter being the first

seen on a drive north from Kandi in Benin) , 40 km north of Zinder and 150 km

south of Agadez on 5 Oct 1977, 60 km north-east of Abalak on 7 Oct 1977 and

Ayorou (12 July 1978 and 24 Sept 1984).

c. naevia Rufous-crowned Roller Seen at Tapoa on 5 J^r 1977, 30 km south-

west of Niamey on 28 Aug 1977 and at Yeri on 6 June 1984.

Eurystomus glaucurus Broad-billed Roller Singles at Gaya (4 Sept 1978 and

10 Aug 1984) and at Kakou on 20 Sept 1984.

PHOENICULIDAE

Phoeniculus purpureus Green Wood-hoopoe Three 30 km north of Gaya on 10

Aug 1984.

UPUPIDAE

Upupa epops Hoopoe Singles seen at Dogondoutchi (15 Aug 1977), Abalak

(7 Oct 1977), Tillabery (15 July 1978) and Ayorou (24 Sept 1984).

BUCEROTIDAE

Tockus erythrorhynchus Red-billed Hombill Recorded from Ayorou (Sept

1984) , Gaya (June 1977) , Niamey (Aug 1967) and Tapoa (J^r 1977) .

T. nasutus Grey Hombill Recorded from Ayorou (18 July 1978) , 150 km

south of Agadez (5 Oct 1977) , Dogondoutchi (15 Aug 1977) , Niamey (13 Aug

1967), Tanout (5 Ozt 1977) and Tapoa (5 T^r 1977 and 11 July 1984).

CAPITONIDAE

Lybius dubius Bearded Barbet One 45 km north of Gaya in Aug 1984.

L. vieil loti Vieillot 's Barbet One at Gaya in Sept 1978.

PICIDAE

Dendropicos goertae Grey I'JOodpecker A pair near Niamey on 18 June 1977.

ALAUDIDAE

Alaemon alaudipes Hoopoe Lark One near Illela on 1 Aug 1977 and another

at Agadez on 6 Oct 1977.

Eremopterix nigriceps l-Jhite-fronted Finch Lark Singles 80 km and 30 km

north-east of Abalak in Oct 1977.

1985

Republic of Niger

85

E. leucotis Chestnut-backed Finch Lark. Six near Illela in Aug 1977.

Abundant in the sahel north of Tanout in Oct 1977. A pair at Gotheye in Aug

1984 and four at Garbey-Kourou in Sept 1984.

HIRTODINIDAE

Hirundo smithii Wire-tailed Swallow At Tapoa on 5 Ppr 1977 and Dogondoutchi

on 15 Aug 1977.

H. aethiopica A pair nested in a house at Ayorou in July 1978. Bates (1934d)

secured a specimen at Gao in Mali, a record omitted by Hall and Moreau,

although Bannerman (1939) mentioned it together witli Bates' observations of

the species even further west.

H. rustica European Swallow One at Firgoun on 23 Sept 1984.

H, leucosoma Pied-winged Swallow Three at Tapoa on 5 Ppr 1977.

H. daurica Red-rumped Swallow Present at Yeri on 6 June 1984.

H. senegalensis Mosque Swallow One at Ayorou on 22 Sept 1984.

H. abyssinica Lesser Striped Swallow Recorded from Gaya (21 June 1977)

and Yeri (6 June 1984) .

MOTACILI.IDAE

Motacilla aguimp African Pied Wagtail One at Sagafondo, between Niamey and

Gotheye, on 19 Sept 1984.

M. flava Yellow Wagtail Beside the Niger between the Nigerian border and

Tapoa on 5 Apr 1977.

CAMPEPHAGIDAE

Campephaga phoenicea Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike One at Gaya on 22 June

1977.

PYCNONOTIDAE

Pycnonotus barbatus Black-headed Bulbul Recorded from Niamey (July 1977)

and Tapoa (^pr 1977) .

LANIIDAE

Prionops plumata Comnon Helmet-shrike Flocks seen at Tapoa (Apr 1977) and

60 km north of Gaya (Aug 1984) .

Tchagra senegala Black-headed Tchagra At Tapoa (Apr 1977) and 75 km south-

east of Dosso (Sept 1978) .

86

R. A. Cheke, J. F. Walsh & L.D.C. Fishpool

MALIMBUS 7

Laniarius barharus Crinnson BoubDu More than one present at Yeri in June

1984.

Lanius senator T-fcodchat Shrike One near Tagalal on 8 Oct 1977.

L. excub itoT Great Grey Shrike Coimon in the Agadez area in Oct 1977,

viiere one was seen chasing two desert locusts (Schistocerca gregaria) .

Southernmost record: 10 north of Abalak on 7 Oct 1977.

Corvinella corvina Long-tailed Shrike Recorded at Tapoa (Tspr 1977) , Torodi

(July 1984) and 30 km north of Gaya (Aug 1984).

lURDIDAE

Oenanthe leucopyga I'^hite-runped l-Jheatear One 60 km south of Agadez and

another at Agadez on 6 Oct 1977.

0, oenanthe Wheatear One at Issawan on 4 Oct 1977, two 40 km north of

Zinder the next day and several 40 km north-east of In Gall on 7 Oct 1977.

Myrmecocichla aethiops Ant-eating Chat Near Illela in Aug 1977 and in

the Issawan area in Oct 1977.

TIMALIIDAE

Turdoides plebejus Brown Babbler Flocks at Tapoa in P^r 1977 and 25 km

north of Gaya in Aug 1984.

SYLVTIDAE

Sylvia communis VJhitethroat One, singing, amongst Doum palms {Hyphaene

thebaica) in Cenchrus biflorus grassland 5 km south of M^yahi on 3 Oct 1977.

Hippolais pallida Olivaceous Warbler Singles at Tapoa on 5 Apr 1977 and

Ayorou on 24 Sept 1984.

Phylloscopus trochilus Willow Warbler Seen at Tapoa on 5 Apr 1977 and at

Tahoua on 8 Oct 1977.

Cisticola brachyptera Siffling Cisticola At Tapoa in July 1984.

Camaroptera brevicaudata Grey-backed Camaroptera At Tapoa in Apr 1977.

Eremomela pusilla Green-backed Eremomela At Tapoa in Apr 1977,

Sylvietta brachyura Nuthatch Warbler One near Labezanga on the Niger

side of the border on 16 Aug 1978.

NECTARINIIDAE

Anthreptes platurus Pigmy Long-tailed Sunbird Singles at Niamey on 19

Dec 1969 (D.J. Cheke pers. oonm.), Tapoa (5 Apr 1977) and Torodi (11 July

1984) .

1985

Republic of Niger

87

Nectarinia pulchella Beautiful Long-tailed Sunbird Single males seen

at Niamey (11 Aug 1967, 14 July 1978), Tapoa (5 1977), Gaya (22 June

1977) , 40 km north of Tahoua (8 Oct 1977) and at Ayorou (17 and 19 July 1978,

\4ien seen feeding on flowers of Commiphora sp., and 23 Sept 1984).

N. senegalensis Scarlet-breasted Sunbird At Tapoa on 5 Apr 1977 and a

pair 30 km north of Gaya on 10 Aug 1984.

EMBERIZIDAE

Emberiza tahapisi Cinnamon-breasted Rock-bunting Noted at Tapoa on 5 Apr

1977. A pair at Ayorou on 15 July 1978 and present at Gotheye on 11 Aug 1984.

FRINGILLIDAE

Serinus mozambicus Yellow-fronted Canary At Tapoa in Apr 1977 and at Gaya

in June 1977.

PLOCEIDAE

Ploceus cucullatus Village Weaver Recorded from Gaya, Niamey and Ayorou,

vhere an active colony was noted on 21 Sept 1984.

P. melanocephalus Black-headed Weaver A colony was observed on the v^st

bank of the Niger opposite Niamey from June to Oct 1977. On the evening of

12 Oct a small sairple were mist-netted. Wing lengths of 11 females ranged

from 65 to 72 mm (mean = 67.73; S.D. = 2.57) and of 17 males from 70 to 76

mm (mean = 72.65; S.D. = 1.58). Female weights ranged from 17.0 to 21.1 g

(mean = 19.05; S.D. = 1.66) and male weights from 20.1 to 25.0 g (mean =

2.47; S.D. = 1.19). Three iimature males had pale irises and one adult

male was in full wing moult. Blood smears were taken from 28 of the birds

but no parasites were found (Peirce 1 984 ) . The species was conmon elsewhere

along the Niger, north of Niamey.

P. heuglini Heuglin's Masked Weaver A male at Ayorou on 22 Sept 1984.

P. luteolus Slender-^billed Weaver A male at Niamey on 12 Aug 1967 and one

near Gotheye on 11 Aug 1984.

Euplectes franciscanus Red Bishop A male near Niamey on 12 Aug 1967.

E. a far Yellow-crowned Bishop Common near Niamey, also noted at Gotheye

(Aug 1984) and Ayorou (Sept 1984).

Quelea guelea Red-billed Quelea Control measures were being taken against

this species at Bani-Bangou on 4 Sept 1977. On 25 Sept 1984 twD flocks of

about 100 birds each were seen 60 km south of Ayorou.

Passer griseus Grey-headed Sparrow Comnon at Ayorou, Gotheye, Niamey and

Yeri.

Petronia dentata Bush Sparrow At Tapoa in T^r 1977.

88

R. A. Cheke, J. F. Walsh & L.D.C. Fishpool

MALIMBUS 7

Bubalornis albirostris Buffalo Weaver Active breeding colonies in Aug and

Sept at Niaiæy, Gotheye, Garbey-Kourou and 73 km north of Gaya.

vidua orientalis Broad-tailed Paradise tJhydah M^les seen at Gaya on 21

June 1977 and near Dogondoutchi on 15 Aug 1977.

Hypochera Ichalybeata Indigo Bird At Ayorou, Niamey and Tapoa.

ESTRILDIDAE

Lagonosticta senegala Senegal Firefinch Abundant. Noted at Agadez, Ayorou

(feeding young in a nest, late Sept 1984) , Gaya, Gotheye, Niamey and Tapoa.

Uraeginthus bengalus Red-cheeked Oordon-Bleu Near Niamey in Aug 1967 and

at Gaya in June 1977.

Estrilda troglodytes Black-rumped Waxbill Recorded frcm Gaya (June 1977)

and Gotheye (Aug 1984) .

E. me 1 pod a Orange-cheeked Waxbill Four at Gaya on 4 Sept 1978.

Lonchura malabrica Warbling Silverbill At Tapoa on 5 Apr 1977.

STURNIDAE

Lamprotornis caudatus Long-tailed Glossy Starling Seen in small numbers

along the Niger River: e.g. 30 km north of Gaya (Aug and Sept 1984) , Tapoa

(Apr 1977) and 20 at Labezanga in Aug 1978. Also one east of Kakou in Sept

1984.

L. purpureus Purple Glossy Starling Noted at Gaya (June 1977) and Tapoa

(Apr 1977). A juvenile at Ayorou in Sept 1984.

Spreo pulcher Chestnut-bellied Starling Common near Niairey in Aug 1967

and seen there and at Dogondoutchi in Aug 1977. On 30 May 1978 one was

seen feeding on the grasshopper Oedaleus senegalensis 32 km north of

Tillabery.

DICRURIDAE

Dicrurus adsimilis Glossy-backed Drongo Seen near Gaya.

CORVIDAE

Ptilostomus afer Black Magpie Common at Niamey in Aug 1967 and Dec 1969

(D.J. Cheke pers. oomm.). Also seen between Gaya and Beylande (Apr-July

1977) .

Corvus ruficollis Brown-necked Raven Two 120 km south of Agadez on 5 Oct

1977 and the species w/as present in Agadez itself, the next day. On 7 Oct

another v;as seen 40 km west of the town.

1985

Republic of Niger

89

c. albus Pied Crow Conmon. Seen at Abalak, Agadez^ Ayorou^ Bimi N'konni,

Garbey-Kourou ^ Gaya, Gotheye^ In Gall, Niamey, Say and Tapoa.

ACKNa'^EDGEMENTS

We thank Dr. J. A. CSoles and S. A. Sowah for help with some of the field work.

We are also grateful to D.J. and Y.C. Cheke and G.B. Popov for sane records.

P. Giraudoux kindly provided some bibliographic information.

SUMMARY

Records of 188 species seen in Niger between 1967 and 1984 are given.

RÉSUMÉ

Renseignements sur 188 espèces vus au Niger entre 1967 et 1984 sont donnés.

REFERENCES

BM1NERMAN, D.A. (1931) Liste des oiseaux obtenus en 1928 par M.G.L. Bates

pendant son voyage du nord de la Nigeria au Sénégal, a travers le

Soudan Français et les territories du Haut-Niger et de la Haute-Volta.

L'Oiseau et R.F.O. no. 12; 594-617

BMNERIAN, D.A. (1939) The Birds of Tropical West Africa. Vol. 5. The

Crown Agents, London

BATES, G.L. (1933) Birds of the southern Sahara and adjoining countries

in FrendiWest Africa. Part I. Ibis 13th. series 3: 752-780

BATES, G.L. (1934a) Birds of the southern Sahara and adjoining countries

in FroxrhWest Africa. Part II. Ibis 13th. series 4: 61-79

BATES, G.L. (1934b) Birds of the southern Sahara and adjoining countries

in FreichWest Africa. Part III. Ibis 13th. series 4: 213-239

BATES, G.L. (1934c) Birds of the southern Sahara and adjoining countries

in French West Africa. Part IV. Ibis 13th. series 4: 439-466

BATES, G.L. (1934d) Birds of the southern Sahara and adjoining countries

in French West Africa, Part V, Ibis 13th. series 4; 683-716

BRUNEAU DE MIRE, P. (1957) Observation sur la faune avienne du Massif de

1'Aj.r. Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat., Paris 29; 130-135

CASSELTœ, P.J. (1984) Breeding birds, pp 229-240 in Clouds ley-Thoirpson,

J.L. "S^ara Desert", Pergamon Press, Oxford.

QiEKE, R.A. , FISHPOOL, L.D.C, & roRREST, G.A. (1980) Oedaleus senegalensis

(Krauss) (Orthoptera; Acrididae; Oedipodinae) : an account of the 1977

outbreak in West Africa and notes on éclosion under latoratory

œnditions. Acrida 9: 107~132

DOUAUD, J. (1955) Les oiseaux du Dahomey et du Niger notes de voyage.

L'Oiseau et R.F.O. 25; 295-307

90

R. A. Cheke, J. F. Walsh & L.D.C. Fishpool

MALIMBUS 7

FAIRCK, J. (1971) Eî^loration omittoloaique au Kaouar (Hiver 1970)

Le Gerfaut 61: 146-161

FAIRCN, J. (1975) Contribution â l'ornithologie de l'Air (Niger) . Le

Gerfaut 65: 107-134

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

GIRAUDOUX, P. (1978) Fang von Weisstorchen auch in Niaer. Die Vogelwarte

29: 276-277

GIRAUDOUX, P. (1984) Birds in the Niger Republic. Brit. Birds 77: 433

GRETTENBERGER, J. (1984) W National Park in Niger - a case for urgent

assistance. Oryx 18: 230-236

HAAS, W. von (1974) .Beobachtungen palaarktischer Zugvogel in Sahara und

Sahel (Algérien, Mali, Niger). Die Vogelwarte 27: 194-202

HARTERT, E. (1921) The birds collected by Capt, togus Buchanan during his

journey from Kano to Air or Asben. Novitates Zoologicae 1921: 78-141

HARTERT, E. (1924) Ornithological results of Cap. Buchanan's second Sahara

expedition. Novitates Zoologicae 1924: 1-48

HEU, R. (1961) Observations ornithologiques au Tenéré. L'Oiseau et R, F. O.

31: 214-239

KOENIG, L. (1956) Zum Vorkonæn einiger Sprinte zwischen Tessalit und

Niamey (Franzosich - Westafrika) . Journal fur Ornithologie 1956:

384-402

KOSTER, S, H. & GRETTENBERGER, J. F, (1983) A preliminary survey of birds in

W Park, Niger, Malimbus 5: 62-72

PALUDM, K. (1936) Report on the birds collected during Professor O.

Olufsen's expedition to French Sudan and Nigeria in the year 1927;

with field notes by the collector Mr. Harry Madsen. Vidensk, Medd.

fra. Dansk. naturh. Foren. 100: 247-346

PEIRCE, M.A. (1984) Haanatozoa of African birds: sane miscellaneous

findings, Afr. J. Ecol. 22: 149-152

PETTET, A. (1984) Migratory birds, pp. 241-250 in Clouds ley-Thonpson,

J.L. (ed.) "Sahara Desert". Pergamon Press, Oxford

PFRIEHM, U. (1981) Beitrag zum Durchzug palaarktischer Vogel in Nord-imd

West Afrika. Om. Mitteilungen 33: 65-67

ROUSSETjOT, R. (1947) Notes sur la faune ornithologique des cercles de

Maradi et de Tanout (Niger français). Bull. I.F.A.N, 1947: 99-137

VILLIERS, A. (1950) Contribution à l'étude de l'Air, Oiseaux. Mén.

I.F.A.N. 10: 345-385

Drs R. A. Cheke & L.D.C, Fishpool, c/o Tropical Development and

Research Institute , College Bouse, Wrights Lane, London W8 5SJ , UK

1985

91

SÉDENTARISATICN DE MONTICOLA SOLITARIUS AU CAP DE NAZE, SÉNÉGAL

par Charles Rouchouse

Received 31 December 1984

Revised 11 February 1985

Le Cap de Naze sur la Petite Côte au Sénégal (14°32'N, 17°06'O) présente un

intérêt particulier pour l'avifaune notarrment aux périodes de passages de

la nu.gration. En 1981, nous avons constaté la présence de Monticola

solitarius sur ce massif et poursuivi des observations de 1982 à 1984. En

1983 nous avons mis en évidence la présence permanente sur ce site de

quelques sujets et recueilli des indices qui permettent de formuler une

présonption de nidification.

ESQUISSE GÉOGRAPHIQUE

Ce secteur de région appcurtient à une zone de transition située entre la

presqu'île du Cap Vert à l'Ouest et l'intérieur du pays à l'Est.

L'altitude est médiocre, 74 mètres au point culminant sur le Cap de Naze.

L'arrière-pays se caractérise par des vallonnements et des affleurements

rocheux. I^e réseau hydrographique est constitué par des thalweas d ' iirportance

variable. Le cadre morphologique du littoral présente une alternance de

zones basses sableuses et de falaises.

Le climat assez clément sur cette côte est ponctué par l'alternance d'une

saison humide avec une saison sèche beaucoup plus longue. La pluviométrie

étant le facteur climatique le plus aléatoire.

CARACTÈRE DU BIOTOPE

I<e massif du Cap de Naze d'une superficie de 700 ha, se caractérise par un

important promontoire rocheux face à la mer qui s'étend le lona de la côte

sur une distance de 1700 mètres. Son ensemble structural est constitué

par une série de grès et argiles surmontéepar une cuirasse de faciès

ferrucrineux. Il forme sur son versant maritime un cahot rocheux rehaussé

au Nord par des falaises importantes. Ce massif s'étend a l'Est par un

plateau incliné sur l'intérieur du pays. Une petite vallée séparé la

partie maritime de la structure continentale (carte A) .

la couverture végétale s'inclut dans la zone sahélo-soudanienne , mais la

dégradation actuelle de la végétation sur ce secteur la place davantage

dans le domaine sahelien. La strate ligneuse moyenne ou basse est

caractérisée surtout par Acacia nilotica , Acacia seyal. La couverture

herbacée est constituée en grande partie par des thérophytes. On note une

prédaninance de graminées oonme Schoenefeldia gracilis, Chloris prieurii.

92 C. Rouchouse MALMUS 7

Carte (A) Massif du Cap de Naze: A, Plœ maritime avec les falaises sur

le versant Ouest; B, Vallée intermédiaire entre le bloc maritime et le

plateau intérieur. Les plages hachurées définissent les zones d'observation

de Monticola solitaria.

Obt-m»nsu«||«t

I

1985

Monticola solitarius

93

CHRONOLOGIE DES OBSERVATIONS

Monticola solitarius a été observé la première fois au Cap de Naze, le

31/12/1978 (de Smet et Van Gonpel 1980). Nous avons trouvé quelques

sujets dans ce secteur en février 1981, observations confirmées jusqu’au

mois de ma.i (Morel, Monnet & Rouchouse 1983) .

Observations en 1982

- j anvier

- mars

- mai

- novembre

- décembre

quelques sujets M et F non appariés

1 1 observations M et F non appariés

après le 20/3 l'effectif s'est réduit à quelques F

1 F isolée

5 M et 5 F non appariés; 1 F perchée avec chant

4 observations M et F non appariés

Observations en 1983

- avril

- mai

- juin

- juillet

- août

- septembre

- octobre

novembre

décembre

2 F isolées; 1 couple, chant soutenu, attitude fébrile

(23/4)

2 sujets M ou F (?)

3 M

5 M dont 1 sujet juvénile; évolutions moins aisées sur

les rochers que les adultes (31/7)

1 M juvénile (12/8)

1 M 2 F

1 M sujet perché, peu farouche, migrateur (1/10)

1 M juvénile (15/10)

18 M et F non appariés, chant soutenu, grande

effervescence; arrivée migrateurs (30/10)

12 M 3 F; IM juvénile chant soutenu (28/11)

6 observations M et F non appariés

Observations en 1984

~ j anvier

- février

- mars

- avril

- mai

4 M 5 F

6 observations M et F non appariés

1 couple; transport de débris végétaux par sujet M (13/3)

1 couple dans une zone différente, chant (13/3)

8 observations M et F non appariés

2F; 1 sujet sexe non identifié

1 F (3/5)

Le graphique B ejq^rime les observations mensuelles obtenues au cours

des années 1981 a 1984 illustrant l'importance de l'effectif à deux périodes

caractéristiques de l'année.

ŒMiENTAIRE

La régularité du passage de Monticola solitarius au Cap de Naze apparaît

évidente mais avec quelques fluctuations. Ce site très attractif est

susceptible de favoriser l'implantation de quelques couples. Les

observations de 1983 attestent la présence permanente de quelques individus

sur le site et probablement le dél^t d'un processus de sédentarisation.

C'est avec une grande difficulté que nous avons effectué les observations de

mai a septembre 1983. Ces sujets très farouches, évoluaient avec

une extrême discrétion dans les éboulis et le couvert des broussailles, mais

94

C. Rouchouse

MALIMBUS 7

rarement à découvert dans les falaises. Le 30/10/83 nous avons remarqué

une grande animosité entre certains individus. Cette attitude pouvait

correspondre dans la circonstance, â une compétition territoriale entre les

quelques sujets résidents et les migrateurs qui venaient d'arriver.

Les observations du 23/4 et 31/7/1983 permettent de présumer la

nidification. Les éwlutions d'un couple le 13/3/1984 étaient à cet égard

très significatives. La présence de sujets juvéniles hors des périodes

de passage, renforce cette présoirption : le 31/7/83 un jeune sujet révéla

parfaitement les taches blanchâtres aux rémiges secondaires et couvertures

alaires, caractéristique liée aux jeunes d'après Géroudet.

RESUÎIE

Nous avons observé Monticcla solitarius au Cap de Naze en 1981. De

nouvelles observations furent réalisées de 1982 a 1984. L'article présente

les caractéristiques du biotope et les résultats des principales observa-

tions. C'est en 1983 que nous avons constaté la présence permanente de cette

espèce sur ce site avec des indices qui permettent de présumer sa nidifica-

tion.

SUMMARY

The Blue Rock Thrush M. solitarius was observed in 1981 at Cap de Naze in

Senegal. Its permanent presence was established during 1983 and breeding

is strongly suspected.

REFERENCES

DE SMET, K. & VAN COMPEL, J. (1980) Observations sur la côte

Sénégalaise en décembre et janvier. Malimbus 2: 56-70

MOREL, G. J., MCNNET, C. & ROUCHOUSE, C. (1983) Données nouvelles sur

Monticola solitaria et Monticola saxatilis en Sénégambie. Malimbus 5t

1-4

GÉROUDET, P. (1963) La Vie des Oiseaux. Les Passereaux. Des Fiésanaes

aux Fauvettes. Delachaux et Niestlé. Neuchâtel.

C. Rouchouse , ORSTOM, BP 50 Mbcur , Sénégal

1985

95

PPEUSS'S CLIFF HIRUNDO PREUSSI BPEEDING IN SIERRA LEONE

by Alan Tye

Rœeived 17 July 1985

Preuss's Cliff Swallow Hirundo (Petrochelidon) preussi has a broad range,

extending from Guinea-Bissau and Mali bo western Cameroon, but it is known

to be of local occurrence within that area. Indeed, the record from Guinea-

Bissau is separated from the next nearest by c. 500 km; there is another

isolated record from north-east Zaire (Chapin 1953). The species breeds

under a broad range of climatic conditions (Hall & Moreau 1970) , and

appears to be partially migratory in Mali (Tjamarche 1983) . Hence

it may be expected to occur from time to time as a non-breeding visitor in

localities outside its normal range, as is the case with other species of

swallow. It has not been recorded hitherto from Sierra Leone, but I

report here the discovery of several grcxjps of Hirundo preussi , including

tx^o breeding œlonies, in the Guinea savanna zone of north-east Sierra

leone c. 400 km from Guinea-Bissau and 500 km from breeding areas in M.ali,

On 6 April 1984, tvo colonies of Preuss's Cliff Swallow were found less

than 15 km apart on the road bet\N?een Falaba and Gberia TimbaJco at

approximately 09°48'N, 11^15'M (altitude c. 400 m) . The birds were buildina

nests in culverts under the road; one culvert was small and difficult of

access but birds œuld be seen œllecting imid frcxn pools along a near-dry

watercourse 20 m away. The other was accessible and contained the foun-

dations of at least 50 nests, soire nearly complete with downward-pointing

funnels. About 50 pairs of Preuss's Swallow attended this site, along with

two or three pairs of liesser Striped Swallow Hirundo abyssinica.

They \Ære seen clearly in flight and while collecting mud fran the

ground, at distances of less than 20 m. The following diagnostic

identification features were noted: upperparts, including crov\n, glossy black,

chestnut-red streak behind eye; rurrp sandy-brown, tail dark bro\%n or blacJc

with ^ite 'mirrors' (visible in birds on a photograph of the nest site) ;

tail forked but without long streamers; underside pale dingy brownish. More

were seen a few days later, further south in Sierra Leone, as follows:

7 April 1984, road bridge over Seli River at Badala (09'^20'N, 11®32'W),

10-20 birds feeding over the river with Lesser Striped Swallows and Fanti

Roughwings Psalidoprocne obscura. No evidence of breeding was seen at this

site.

10 Jpri], 1984, at elevation 1660 m on Mt Bintumani, Ijoma Mountains

(09°15'N, 11^7 'W) , at least 50 birds in a mixed foraging flock over montane

grassland with House Martins Delichon urbica, European Sand Martins Riparia

riparia, Bam Swallovjs Hirundo rustica, Lesser Striped Swallows and Mottled.

Swifts Apus aeguatorialis. Again, no evidence of breeding was seen here

although suitable sites are present in the area.

Preuss's Cliff Sw^allow nests in a variety of sites, including cliffs,

rock walls under waterfalls and on river banks, rocks overhanging water,

bridges, buildings, culverts and large pipes (Bannerman 1930-1951),

96

Alan Tye

MALIMBUS 7

Mackworth-Praed & Grant 1970-1973, Ashford 1968). It breeds mainly in the

West African dry season, with records in February-June in Nigeria (Ashford

1968, Mackworth-Praed & Grant 1970-1973), June in Togo (Cheke 1982) and

November- July in Mali (Lamarche 1981). Hence the Sierra Leone records are

not unusual in terms of site and season. The records from Badala and Mt

Bintumani may also concern breeding birds although nesting sites were not

located during the brief visits to each of these places. Despite the

absence of previous records Preuss's Cliff Swallow appears to be widely

established in north-eastern Sierra Leone. It is uncertain whether these

records represent a recent colonisation, or whether the species was merely

overlooked by the very few omitholoaists to have visited the area

previously.

PEFEPENCES

ASKFOPD, P..W. (1968) Preuss's Cliff Swallow Lecythoplastes preussi breed-

ing in western Nigeria. Bull. Niger. Orn. .Soc. 5: 42-44

CHAPIN, J.P. (1953) The birds of the Belgian Congo, Part 3. Bull. Am.

Mus. Nat. Hist. 75A: 1-821

CHEKE, R.A. (1982) More bird records from the Republic of Toco. Malimbus

4: 55-62

LAMARCHE, B. (1981) Liste commentée des oiseaux du Mali, deuxième partie:

Passereaux. Malimbus 3: 73-102

Dr Alan Tye, 2 School Lane, King's Ripton, Huntingdon , Cambridgeshire ,

PEU 2NL, UK

1985

97

PPOGRESSIVE D^ROVEMEMT IN FORAGING EFFICIENCY OF JIRTENILE

EUROPEAN BEE-EATERS MEROPS APIASTER IN THE EASTERN CAPE

PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA

by W. C. Marais and B. Every

Received 20 April 1985

INTRODUCTION

The European Bee-eater Merops apiaster is a recnjlar visitor to the Sundays

River Valley, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, in the austral sumrer.

It usually makes its first appearance in the Sundays River Valley in

January, but has been recorded in November and December (C. Niven pers.

comm., 1985) and aathers in pre-migrational roosting flocks and departs in

early March (Marais & Every Î982, Marais 1984).

In 1983/1984 the flock of c. 50 European Bee-eaters at Moyeni

(33°37'S, 25^38 'E), Addo, was composed of 66% newly fledged birds. On

arrival the young birds were variously dependent on adults for food.

Although much work has been done on foraging efficiency in bee-eaters

(references in Fry 1984) , there is no specific informetion on foraging

efficiency of juveniles (C. H. Fry in lift., 1984). This flock provided

an opportunity to observe the development of foraaing efficiency and

independency in juvenile European Bee-eaters.

METTHODS

Observations were made on a flock of c. 33 juvenile and 17 adult bee-eaters

in the study area on four days beb^en 4 January 1984 and 27 Febmary 1984,

prior to the birds' departure on 5 March 1984. Two types of foraaing

behaviour were observed: (1) individual foraging sallies from the perch,

which v;ill be referred to as perch sallies; and (2) aerial foraging

continuously for extended periods without landing, mostly at greater

altitude.

All observations were made on perching sallies only, because of the

difficulty of quantifying efficiency for aerial foraging. A foraaing

flight vras regarded as successful v^ere one or more prey items were taken

vbile on the v;ina between take off and consecutive landing. On each

occasion the success rate of 50 foraging flights of each of four juvenile

and two adult birds was recorded and expressed as a percentage. The

foraging efficiency of adults v/as quantified to provide an index of

relative efficiency. Results are shown in Tables 1 and 2 and Fig. 1.

RESULTS

The roosting flock at Moyeni was composed of about seven foraging flocks,

which dispersed from the roosting site in the early morning and returned

98

W.C. Marais and B. Every

MALIMBUS 7

during the evening. The most frequent foraging flock size was six birds

(n = 44) and mean foraging flock size was 7.27 birds. The presence of two

adults or, less frequently, multiples of two adults, suggests that foraging

flocks may be family groups. In the absence of rinaed birds it is not

possible to ascertain that. Although all observations were conducted on

individual foraging flocks , cursory observations of birds fe^ina at the

roost site shoved feeding behaviour similar to that observed at the

foraging areas.

Table 1 Foraging success rates of four juvenile European Bee-eaters

Table 2 Fbraging success rates of twD adult European Bee-eaters

Although not quantified, a qualitative assessment of relative foraging

ability suggested that young birds spent lonaer in flight per prey item

taken. Adults took up to three prey items per foragina flight. The lovTer

efficiency of juveniles may be a function of poorer flying ability and/or

less experience at prey catching than adults.

At the foraging site flocks were less cohesive. Adults left young birds

alone for periods, to forage intensively up bo 1 km away and for up to 10

min, often at considerable altitude, without landing (as described by Fry

1984) . Adults then returned to the young birds and fed them with prey

freshly caught from perch sallies, then left again for further intense

aerial foraging trips. !'?hile the young birds were left alone they foraged

by means of perch sallies, always landing to process the prey before

swallowina it.

1985

Bee-eater foraging efficiency

99

Figure 1 Foraging efficiencies of adult (■! and juvenile (#) European

Bee-eaters, and'^nuinbers of feeding visits by adults to juveniles (A)/

South Africa.

As foraging efficiency of juveniles increased, the frequency of feedina

visits by adults decreased (Fig. 1) until the foraging efficiency of young

birds had reached about 62% on 30 January. After that date juveniles v^ere

seldom left unattended but became an integral part of the entire foraaina

system. Incidents of adults feedina juveniles became rare and vÆ?re

possibly more socially significant as the young birds' foraging ability

approached that of the adults.

DISQJSSICN

It is clear from Fig. 1 that foraaing efficiency of juvenile European Bee-

eaters improves proaressively, while that of adults remains constant. The

improvement of juvenile foragina efficiency was most dramatic over the

period 4-10 January, viien it doubled from 23% to 46%. It suagests that the

early period is critically important for young birds to attain a level of

foragina efficiency enablinq them to achieve energy reserves for miaration,

and allowing adults enough time to pursue the same goal vjithout having to

spend too much time feeding the young. However, since bee-eaters usually

do not fatten themselves at all before migratina (Fry 1984) , it is

important that a high level of foraging efficiency among juveniles be

attained to enable them to sustain themselves while on imigration.

FEEDING visits/hour

100

W.C. Marais and B. Every

MALIMBUS 7

The period from 10 January to 21 February shovæd a more linear iirprove-

ment in foraqinq efficiency. Extrapolation of adult and juvenile curves in

Fig. 1 suggests that they vmld converge on 5 March, viiich was the date of

departure. Thus it seems that the birds emiorate as soon as juveniles

achieve the same foraging efficiency as adults. In the event of the young

birds overwintering in South Africa (and local observations suggest that

some do so; Chandler & Every 1984) , it would be important that they

achieve a level of foraging efficiency to cope with this independence before

the adults migrate.

ACKNa/T.EDGEMEOTS

We thank Dr G. J. B. Ross of the Port Elizabeth Museum for advice,

discussion and assistance v/ith this project and for reading the draft. We

are also indebted to Dodi Marais for typing the manuscript and preparing

the figure.

RFFERÏNCES

CHANDLER, M. & EVERY, B. (1984) An overwintering European Bee-eater.

Bee-eater 35: 19

FRY, C.H. (1984) The Bee-eaters. South Africa: Pkissel Friedmian Book

Enterprises (Pty.) Ltd.

MARAIS, W.C. (1984) Pre^migrational roosting behaviour of the European

Bee-eater 1983/4. Bee-eater 35: 34-36

MARAIS, W.C. & EVERY, B. (1982) Observations on the European Bee-eater,

summer 1981/2. Bee-eater 35: 25-29

W. C. Marais, P.0, Box 104, Addo 6105, Cape Province , South Africa

B. Every, Eastern Cape Wild Bird Society, P.O. Box 1305,

Port Elizabeth 6000, Cape Province , South Africa

1985

NOTES

101

BIRDS OF OIJTAMBA AREA, NORTHIÆST SIERRA LEONE - Harding & Harding (1982,

Malimbus 4: 64-68) listed the birds they observed during a survey in the

Kilimi region of northwest Sierra Leone. As part of a wildlife survey in

Sierra Leone I visited the headquarters of the proposed Outamba Kilimi

National Park, located several km outside the boundary of the Outamba

region. Outanha (Fig. 1, 1) is an area of 740 km^ at 09*^35 '-55' N,

1 1^55 '-12^30 'W; Kilhni (2) covers an area of 240 km^ at 09°43'N, 12°32'W.

I used the park headquarters as a base during iry survey of areas surrounding

the Outamba region during June and July 1983. Though political difficulties

restricted access to the park itself, similar habitats outside the park,

near the villages of Kotor and Fintonia (12°13'W, 09*^37 'N), were surveyed.

In addition, animals in the park itself were observed from a canoe.

As with Kilimi, the Outamba region includes a variety of habitats,

ranging from savanna to swamps and woodland. A number of birds appearing

in Harding & Harding's list, compiled after dry-season observation, were not

observed during my brief survey made in the rainy season. I identified 104

bird species, 60 of vhich were included in Harding & Harding's list; Table

1 gives the 44 additional ones.

I wish to thank Dr Geza Teleki for allowing me to stay at the park

headquarters he established, and Dr Alan Tye for introducing me to the

birds of Sierra Leone. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry kindly

provided game guards. Financial support was provided by the Fulbright

Foundation .

Ruth E. Happel

Dept of Anthropology f Peabody Museum, Harvard University , Cambridge , MA 02138, USA

Table

102

NOTES

MAL.IMBUS 7

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1985

103

THE SPECIES OE PARASITIC PINCHES IN KTIST AFRICA

by R. B. Payne

Received 19 August 1985

Field work in recent years has added to our understanding of the biology

and species limits of parasitic finches in West Africa. Although much of

that work has been published (Nicolai 1968, 1972, 1977; Payne 1968, 1973,

1976, 1982; Pa^me & Croschupf 1984; Payne & Payne 1977), certain reports

have continued to use the more readily available names from Bannerman (1953)

and MackvxDrth-Praed & Grant (1973). Recent avifaunal reports in Malimbus

have used the older terms v/ith the result that even with extensive corres-

pondence it is inpossible to determine the species involved or the match

between parasitic finch and their foster species. Most of the viduine

species are known to be species-specific brood parasites. The present

note may be useful as a summary of the current standing of these brood

parasite species.

Anomalospiza imberbis

The Cuckoo Weaver or Cuckoo Finch parasitizes several warblers in the

genera Cisticola and Prinia. All observations on breeding behaviour and

parasitism come from East and Southern Africa (Friedmann 1960; W^illiams &

Keith 1962; Benson & Pitman 1964). Unlike the viduine finches, the youna

have an unmarked mouth lining (Benson & Pitman 1964) . Recent observations

have somehwat extended and filled in the range outlined by Hall & Moreau

(1970) . The species extends through wooded grassland areas from The

Gambia, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Mali, Nigeria, and Cameroon (Gore 1981;

Bannerman 1949; Thiollay 1985; Malzy 1962; Elgood 1982; Louette 1981).

The open grassy valleys used by the birds are seemingly much more widespread

than are the birds.

Vidua species

The viduine finches are sometimes split into different genera, Steganura

for the paradise vbydahs, Hgpochera for the indiaobirds or combassous, and

vidua for the remaining forms. I use vidua for all, because they are

apparently closely related and hybrids are known between most of the species

groups (Friedmann 1950; Payne 1980).

vidua paradisaea, V. inter jecta, V. togoensis

The paradise vbydahs of Africa include four species, three in West Africa.

The details of differentiation between two of them (inter jecta and togoensis)

have yet to be wcrked out.

The widespread Paradise Whydah' v. paradisaea mimics the sonq and parasitizes

the nests of the Melba Finch Pgtilia melba (only one species of Melba Finch

is recognized; Wolters 1977). The male whydahs living in the sahel and

neighbouring habitats from Senegal eastward to the Ethiopian plateau are

shorter-tailed in breeiinq plumage than the whydahs of east and southern

104

R. B. Payne

MALIMBUS 7

Africa that parasitize the same species. The few specimens from areas

where the two moms meet in eastern Sudan and northeastern Ethiopia appear

intermediate in tail length and wing length, although conparison is prob-

lematic because the specimens are warn and details of tail shape are

unclear. Other authors (Traylor 1968; Hall & Moreau 1970) have considered

seme of these to be hybrids of other forms of \diydahs. The boundary

between the short-tailed and long-tailed forms of v. paradisaea does not

seem to coincide with the boundary betv^een red-lored and grey-lored forms

of P. melba (for subspecies descriptions see ^-t^lters 1963, 1977; van den

Elzen & Koenig 1983) . Because those ti-xa forms of whydah appear to be con-

specific, the western birds occurring from Senegal to Nigeria are a sub-

species (V. p. aucupum) as is the fom occurring from northern Cameroon to

the Sudan (V. p. orientalis) . Thus Vidua (or Steganura) orientalis as

used by Bannerman (1949) and Mackworth-Praed and Grant (1973) is thought to

be conspecific with vidua paradisaea , as in Payne (1971).

vidua obtusa, the Broad-tailed Paradise bhydah of Africa south of the

Equator, is a brood-parasite of the Orange-winged Pytilia Pgtilia afra

(Nicolai 1964; Payne 1971). It is not conspecific with the Nest African

V. paradisaea orientalis or V. p. aucupum, as suegested by the names in

Bannerman (1948) and Moackworth-Praed & Grant (1973), but is a distinct

species .

The other Nest African paradise whydahs are the Toqo Paradish Nhydah

V. togoensis and the Uelle Paradise v.hydah V. inter jecta (common names from

Bannerman 1949). Males in breeding plumage have very long tails, >270 mm

in length) . Male togoensis have narrow tails (width of the long rectrices

<30 mm), male inter jecta have tails with the long rectrices 30-40 nm wide.

Male togoensis are often pale buff on the nape and are more uniformly amber

below; male interjects are darker-naped and the maroon of the breast extends

further posteriorly, giving a two-tone appearance to the underparts. No

female specimens are known of either form. In their overall range occur

two species of pytilia: the Red-winaed Pytilia Pytilia phoenicoptera north

in drier wxxllands and the Yellow-winged Pytilia P. hypograimica further

south in more mesic woodlands (Hall & Moreau 1970; Louette 1981).

The two live together in the same region in some areas (T-Ouette 1981;

Elaood 1982). The map in Hall & Moreau (1970) gives the impression that

the whydahs split geographically west to east, rather than south to north.

The more complete distribution now available suggests overlap between the

two forms of whydahs, but few specimens or identified observations are

known.

The range of togoensis extends as far west as Kabala in Sierra Leone,

at 9°35'N, 11033'W. I observed a male in this plumage on 24 December 1973

along a road about 2 km south of the town, and noted the very long slender

tail, the large straw-colored patch on the nape, and that "it looks quite

golden below, not red." Togoensis is also known from the Karina district

(BMNH; Bannerman 1949). Serle's (1949) observations of "aucupum" in

Sierra Leone probably refer to togoensis. P. hypograimica is known from

Kabala (Bannerman 1949) and I saw it at Musaia (9°46'N, 11°34'W). P.

phoenicoptera occurs further north in Guinea and The Gambia (Bannerman 1949) .

Louette (1981) found no specimen records of V. togoensis for Cameroon,

and only one (Bates's specimen from Tibati, (now in BMNH) of interjects.

I observed both in northern Cameroon. On 17 January 1979 I saw a male

interjects in breeding plumage along the railway line 8 km N of Ngaoundal

(6°31'N, 13°17'E) . On 8 November 1980 I saw an adult male interjects at

Banyo (6045'NI, 11°49'E). On 1 November 1980 I saw both kinds of whydahs

along the road from Tibati (6028'N, 12°38'E) to Mbakaou (6°18'N, 12'^48'E).

1985

Parasitic finches

105

Figure 1. Uelle Paradise Whydah vidua inter jecta, (a) on song perch# (b) in

flight display, (c) diving to song perch (Mole Nat. Park, Ghana); (d)

males in Yankari Nat. Park, Nigeria, in (e) showing apparently short

tails due to angle of view (left) and to loss of the second pair of

rectrices and retention of short central pair (right) .

106

R. B, Payne

MALIMBUS 7

Inter jecta were seen near each town; narrow-tailed birds apparently

togoensis were seen in the nore densely wooded country about halfway between.

This appears to be the first known site where interjects and togoensis live

together, and suggests that tvxD species are indeed involved. Pk5th P.

phoenicoptera and P. hypogrammica occur in northern Caineroon in the Adamawa

region (Louette 1981).

Nicolai (1977) studied Pytilia hypograimica and found nests parasitized

by V. togoensis near Enugu, southeastern Nigeria. Adult male \diydahs

mimicked the songs of P. hypograimica and the youno nestlings mimicked the

begging calls of this foster species. In an earlier note, Serle (1957) found

a nest of P. hypograimica near Enugu that was parasitized by the local whydah.

Serle's specimens (AMNH 765522, 66.164231) appear to be dark-naped, dark-

breasted, and broad-tailed interjects not togoensis. More observations are

needed, as are specimens of known song and parasitic behaviour.

Specimens of togoensis are known from Sierra Leone (Karina) , "Liberia"

(no locality, tail missing, see Louette 1978) , Ivory Coast (Bandama) , Ghana

(Gambaga, Kete Kratschi the type locality, Kete) , Togo (Mangu, Paio) , and

Chad (Gore) ; the last is rather vom but has a slender tail (23 ntn) .

vidua interjects is widespread throughout the range of Pytilia

phoenicoptera , its apparent foster species. I saw males with very long

tails that appeared broader-vaned than the width of the head in Mole National

Park, Ghana, in October 1985, near Zaria, Nigeria, from July to September

1968, and in Yankari National Park, Nigeria, in November 1980. In all of

these localities the cannon pytilia is P. phoenicoptera (Greig-Smith 1976,

Fry 1975, Crick & Marshall 1981) . Specimens are known for Mole and Zaria

and photographs for Yankari (Fig. 1) . A male photographed at the motel

dam at Mole appears narrow-tailed quite yellow across most of the underparts

without the deep russet breast of most specimens of interjects including the

one skin specimen seen at the Mole National Park headquarters. P.

hypograimica has been observed at Mole (Greig-Smith 1976) .

Specimens of male interjects in breeding plumage are known from Guinea

(Cercle de Faranah) , Mali (Bamako, Kaulikoro ) , Ghana (Mole N.P.),

Nigeria (Karu, Enugu - see above, Yola 157 km Ml, Zaria 8 km NI’J) , Cameroon

(Tibati 40 mi NE) , Chad (Banda, Bahr Keela - this form?) , Central African

Republic (Gaza, Nola-Miaiki - type locality. Fort Sibut ;Bozoum) , Zaire (Garamba

P.N., Gangala-na-Bodio , Faradje) , Sudan (Roma, Logoforok) , and Ethiopia

(Bimb, Borraga Kokolate, Baro-Bonga Fork) .

Field identification of male viiydahs is tricky because the apparent

width of the tail varies with the angle of view and with flattening by the

wind. Field estimates of tail length (distinguishing orientalis and

aucupum from interjects and togoensis) are risky, as early in the breeding

season many birds are in breeding plumage except for the long rectrices

v^ich are the last to conplete grov/th: some apparently short-tailed birds

may be growing longer tails. In addition, males sometimes lose their long

second rectrices while retaining the shorter, more pointed and broader

first rectrices, malcing them appear shorter- tailed than when in conplete

plumage. The same is true in museum specimens; Bates (1933) distinguished

togoensis as having display rectrices no wider than 25 nrn and interjects

as wider than 25 mn; are based on the tail of its natural shape; ray

correspondina measurement of 30 mn is based on a flattened tail.

Questions remain about the v^ilydah species. Are the females distinct

1985

Parasitic finches

107

in plumage? Is there geographic variation within a species? Does the type

specimen of interjects in fact apply to a population that parasitizes

Pytilia phoenicoptera? The type locality of interjects is only vaguely

known (between Nola and r-lbaiki in the Central African Republic) , and in

this general area the more widespread pytilia is P. hypograimica , according

to the few records available. Do the two whydahs have different songs and

different host species in the areas where they live in syrrpatry? To add

to our understanding of the v\iiydahs it would be helpful to distincaiish the

long-tailed forms by noting the nape colour, breast colour, and the shape

of the tail. Photographs, specimens (skin, or even a long tail feather)

and tape recordings would be useful. Current information indicates that

two species are involved and that there is considerable geographic overlap

between them (especially in Guinea and Sierra Leone, in Ghana and in

Cameroon) from east to west, though they may in large part sort out north

and south as do their foster species.

vidua chalybeata, V. wilsoni, V. raricola, V, larvata, V. funerea

The indigobirds or combassous include several species. Most published

field observations of indigobirds do not give sufficient detail to allow

identification. The species indicated above differ from the species

recognized in earlier standard works; details are available in a review

(Payne 1982) .

vidua chalybeata, the Village Indigobird, extends cross the sahel and

neighbouring vegetation zones from Mauritania and Senegal to Sudan and

Ethiopia and through east and southern Africa. In Mest Africa it is

distinguished by its black wings and tail and. by orangish feet in the

breeding males. It parasitizes the widespread Senegal or Red-billed Firefinch

Lagonosticta senegala , and its range extends through most of that of

the foster species. The young mimic the begging calls of their foster

species and the adult males mimic the calls and songs of the young and

adults of the foster species, as well as other indigobirds of its species

(Nicolai 1964, Payne 1973). Male V. chalybeata vary in breeding plumage

from greenish (Senegal and neighbouring areas) to bluish (Senegal to Sudan) ;

males in most Ethiopian populations are purplish. The females can scarcely

be distinguished from females of other indigobird species in West Africa.

On average they may have brighter orange feet when alive, and they average

smaller (wing length) than other forms except for V. wilsoni (Payne 1982).

V. wilsoni, Wilson's Indigobird, extends through most of the range of

its foster species, the Bar-breasted Firefinch L. rufopicta. Males in

breeding plumage are purplish-glossed and have light

brownish edges and darker brown vanes to the flight feathers. They are

distinguished from other species known in V7est Africa by the purplish plumage,

and from V. c. ultramarina in eastern Sudan and Ethiopia by the lack of a

glossy sheen as well as 1^ the brown not black wings. Females shot or

captured from males at their courting and singing sites, at present cannot be

distinguished from other indigobirds. v. wilsoni is a species-specific

brood parasite of L. rufopicta-, the adult males mimic their songs and

calls. The sonqs are characterized by a jingle of often several notes per

second, each note differing in pitch from the one before. The alarm calls

are distinctive as well. Audiospectrograms of foster species and indigo-

birds are in Payne (1982) . These indigobirds and the three remaining

species are best identified by song, through knowing the songs and calls of

the firefinch species. The range of v. wilsoni extends from Senegal and

The Gambia through Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Central

African Republic, northeastern Zaire, and Sudan (Payne 1982) ; one specimen

is known from westerri Ethiopia (Gambela) as well (USNM 568295) .

V. wilsoni includes as a synonym "Hypochera lorenzi" (Nicolai 1972).

108

R. B. Payne

MALMUS 7

The description of v. wilsoni applies to both, in plumage and in behaviour

(Payne 1982) .

V. funerea, the Variable Indigobird, extends through the range of its

foster species, the African Firefinch L. rubricata. (Neither it nor any

other form of indigobird is known to be associated with the firefinch

L. Virata, v\iiich may be a distinct species or a race of L. rhodopareia or

L. rubricata, see Nicolai 1982, Payne 1982, Payne & Louette 1983). Males

have light brownish edges and darker brown vanes of the flight feathers.

Males in breeding plumage in Sierra Leone and in Cameroon are glossy blue;

males in northern Nigeria are green. Further east and south the populations

of this species vary from green to blue to purplish in a ooirplex pattern

(Payne 1973, 1982). Males mimic the songs and calls of their foster species,

L. rubricata. Females are indistinguishable in size and plumage frcm other

species in West Africa although they are distinguishable in southern Africa.

V. raricola, the Jambandu Indigobird, lives within the range of its

foster species, the Black-bellied Firefinch L. rara. Males have light

brownish edges of the brown flight feathers. The glossy plumages varies

from greenish in northern Cameiroon (Banyo) and in Sierra Leone (Kabala)

to bluish-green in Ghana (Mole National Park) , the only localities v^ere

individual birds have been saved as specimens after their songs were tape

recorded. Females are indistinguishable in size and plumage from other

indigobirds in West Africa. Males mimic the songs and calls of L. rara.

V. larvaticola , the Bako Indigobird, lives within the range of its

foster species, the Black-faced Firefinch L. larvata (including L. 1.

vinacea) . Males tape-recorded as they mimicked the songs of this firefinch

and then collected at Zaria and Panshanu, northern Nigeria, ranged from

bluish-green to blue in the gloss of the breeding plumage. The range as

pieced together from museum specimens extends from The Gambia and Guinea

to Ethiopia. Because the last three species of indigobirds all have variable

plumage colour (blue to green) it is not known v\hether the bluish-glossed

birds of the Ivory Coast and Ghana are this species; I have tentatively

regarded them so (Payne 1982) . Females are not morphologically distinguish-

able in any obvious way from the other indigobirds.

"Bako" in Hausa refers to guest or visitor, an appropriate name for a

brood parasite. The name is phonetically similar to "baki" (f . "baka") ,

indicating "black, very dark blue, or very dark green" - also appropriate

for the male breeding plumage.

Because the indigobird song is learned from the bird's social

experiences with its foster parents, and the adults cannot consistently

be distinguished in all sexes and localities from other species, it was

not possible to test the idea that the indigobird formed a set of distinct

species until after some genetically-determined traits were known. With

recent field work it has been determined that the nestlings mimic the

colours and patterns of the mouths of their foster species (Table 1 ) . In

two species in southern Africa the young birds have been raised from nest-

lings to adult male breeding plumage to verify that the young with

different mouth colours grow up to be different adults (Payne 1977, 1982) .

Because the eggs and young found in most nests are taken by predators,

nestlings of the other indigobirds found in the field could be raised in

captivity, to determine v^ether they develop into the kinds of adults

that mimic the songs of the same foster species.

1985

Parasitic finches

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110

R. B. Payne

MALIMBUS 7

Ail five species are knov/n to live in immediate synpatry with distinctive

behaviour and morphology with at least one other species, and to maintain

their local identity. For example at Banyo, Cameroon, all blue males

mimicked the songs of L. rubricata , all green meles mimicked the songs of

L. Tara, and all purplish meles mimicked L. rufopicta (Payne 1982, Payne &

Groschupf 1984). At Panshanu, Nigeria, all blue meles mimicked L. larvata

and all green meles mimicked L. rubricata. The combination of different

male plumages in coexisting populations of indigobirds with different foster-

species song mimiicry, and of the mouth colour differences in the young

indigobirds, together were necessary to show that they were distinct species.

The earlier names "camerunensis" and "nigeriae" were dropped because of

doubt to which kinds of indigobirds the type specimens applied. The type of

"camerunensis" was collected between Nola and Mbaiki in the southern Central

African Republic. The firef inches L. rubricata , L. rara, and L. larvata all

live in this general area, and any might have been the foster species of the

type specimen. Because West African populations indigobirds with blue

plumage (like "camerunensis") are known that mimic each of these firef inch

species, it is doubtful that "camerunensis" can be applied critically to any

one of them. The name camerunensis is a nomen dubium and it was considered

desirable to drop its use and necessary to describe tvro new species {v,

raricola, V. larvaticola) (Payne 1982) . A similar argument applies to the

use of the name "nigeriae" , because some green indigobirds in Nigeria and

neighbouring Cameroon mimic L. rubricata, others mimic L. rara, and still

others L. larvata. The type specimen is intermediate in size between the

larger L. rubricata mimics and the smaller mimics of L. rara and L. larvata,

so it is irrpossible to determine that it goes with one or another kind of

indigobird.

vidua macroura

Pin-tailed 1#iydahs vidua macroura are widespread in West Africa from Senegal

eastwards to Sudan and also are common in eastern and southern Africa in

grassy habitats. The meles differ from the other West African viduines in

song, which appears not to mirniic the foster species (Nicolai 1964). They

are not restricted to a single species of fosterer in their parasitism.

On distributional grounds it is likely they parasitize several waxbills of

the genus Estrilda in West Africa, including the Common Waxbill E. astrild,

Black-rumped Waxbill E. troglodytes and Orange-cheeked Waxbill E. melpoda.

All these waxbills have young with nearly identical mouth patterns and

colours, and the juvenile V. macroura that I have seen all have the same

appearance, v. macroura mey also parasitize other species, but the evidence

is not definite. They feed with Orange-breasted Waxbill E. subflava, but

the young of this waxbill have a cream-coloured mouth and lack the colours

of the other known waxbills. Young have also been seen feeding with family

groups of Bronze Mannikins Lonchura cucullata but young mannikins have a

horseshoe-pattem in the mouth and not the spots characteristic of the

waxbills. I know of no nestling whydahs in the nest of a mannikin. The

association of young viduines with faimily groups of finches is not

definitive evidence of parasitism as the young viduines may join any smell

group of finches. These records (e.g. Macdonald 1980) are questionable,

as are records based on unidentified viduine eggs or other white eggs in

the nests of other estrildids and even other kinds of birds (Friedmann 1950,

critique in Nicolai 1964) .

The occurrence of a single Estrilda species in an area vdiere V. macroura

1985

Parasitic finches

111

occurs wDuld be reasonable indirect evidence of the local parasitism of the

Estrilda species. In most areas more than one kind of Estrilda is known,

however. E. astrild is parasitized as the only foster species in parts of

southern and eastern Africa, and the occurrence of this species with

V. macToura on Bioko (Fernando Po) suggests local parasitism, though

E. nonnula occurs there as well. F. me 1 pod a is the common waxbill at Mole

National Park and its habitat matches that of the local k. macroura (Greig-

Smith 1976), and it is probably the local foster species. In the other

West African localities where I found F. macroura I saw both the Orange-

che?eked Waxbill E. melpoda and either E, troglodytes or E. astrild, so

cannot say for certain whether one or all are used as foster species. The

Anambra Waxbill E. poliopareia is another probable foster species; it is

closely related to the Fawn-breasted Waxbill e. paludicola which is the

only local foster species in parts of north\æstem Zambia. Local studies

are needed to determine the brood parasitism of the whydahs in West Africa.

The breeding displays of F. macroura have been described in northern Ghana

(Shaw 1984) .

ACKNaC.EDGE3WrS

I am grateful to Mary Gartshore Dyer for making available her photographs

of the young of Lagonosticta rara, L. larvata, and V. larvaticola. In my

field \^x^rk I was assisted by Christopher Risley, Randy Breitwisch, and

Kathy Groschupf. The curators of several museums, especially the American

Museum of Natural History, U.S. National Museum, Muséum National d 'Histoire

Naturelle (Paris) , and British Museum (Natural History) , allowed me

repeatedly to examine specimens in their care. Field work was supported

by the National Science Foundation and the National Geographic Society.

REFERENCES

BATES, G.L. (1933) Northern races of Steganura paradisaea. Bull. Br. Orn.

Cl. 53: 179-181

BENSCN, C.W. & PITMAN, C.R.S. (1964) Further breeding records from Northern

Rhodesia (no. 4). Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 84: 54-60

CRICK, H.Q.P. & MARSHALL, P.J. (1981) The birds of Yankari Game Reserve,

Nigeria: their abundance and seasonal occurrence. Mai imbus 3: 103-114

FRIEEMANN, H. (1960) The parasitic weaverbirds. U.S. Nat. Museum Bull. 223

FRY, C.H. (1975) The birds of Zaria, IV - residents, vagrants, and check-

list (passerines). Nigerian Orn. Soc. Bull. 4: 91-101

GORE, M.E.J. (1981) Birds of The Gambia. B.O.U. Check-list No. 3.

GREIG-SMITH, P.W. (1976) The corrposition and habitat preferences of the

avifauna of Mole National Park, Ghana. Nigerian Orn. Soc. Bull. 12:

49-66

LOUETTE, M. (1978) Contribution to the ornithology of Liberia (part 4).

Rev. Zool. Afr. 92: 639-643

lOlTETTE, M. (1981) The birds of Cameroon, an annotated check-list. Verb.

Konink. Acad. Witensch. Lett, schone Kunst. Belgie 43, no. 163

112

R. B. Payne

MALIMBUS 7

MACDCNALD, M.A. (1980) Observations on Wilson's Widowfinch and the

Pintailed l'Jhydah in southern Ghana, with notes on their hosts. Ostrich

51: 21-24

MALZY, P. (1962) La faune avienne du Mali (Bassin du Niger). L'Oiseau et

Rev Fr. Orn. 32: no. special

MOREL, M.-Y. (1973) Contribution à l'étude dynamique de la population de

Lagonosticta senegala L. (estrildides) à Richard-Toll (Sénégal) .

Interrelations avec le parasite Hypochera chalybeata (Muller)

(viduinés) . Mèm. Muséum National d 'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, Sér. A.

Zool. 78: 1-156

NICOTiAI, J. (1964) Der Brutparasitismus der Viduinae als ethologisches

Problem. Z. Tierpsychol. 21: 129-204

NICOLAI, J. (1968) Wirtsvogelbeziehungen der Hy poche ra-Formen camerunensis

und nigeriae. Naturwiss 55: 654

NICOIAI, J. (1972) Zwei neue Hypochera-Pjrten aus West Mrika (Ploceidae,

Viduinae). J. Om. 113: 229-240

NICOLAI, J. (1977) Der Rotmaskenastrild {Pytilia hypogrammica) als Wirt

der Ttogo-Paradieswitwe {Steganura cogoensis) . J. Orn. 118: 175-188

NICOLAI, J. (1982) Comportement, voix et relations de parents de

l'Amaranthe du Mali {Lagonosticta virata) . Malimbus 4: 9-14

PAYNE, R. B. (1968) Mimicry and relationships in the indigobirds or

combassous of Nigeria. Nigerian Orn. Soc. Bull. 5: 57-60

PAYNE, R. B. (1971) Paradise viiydas Vidua paradisaea and V. obtusa of

southern and eastern Africa, with notes on differentiation of the

females. Bull. Br..Orn. Cl. 91: 66-76

PAYNE, R.B. (1973) Behavior, mimetic songs and sona dialects, and

relationships of the parasitic indigobirds (Vidua) of Africa. Orn.

Monogr. 1 1 .

PAYNE, R.B. (1976) Song mimicry and species relationships among the West

African pale-winged indigobirds. Auk 93: 25-38

PAYNE, R.B. (1977) Clutch size, egg size, and the consequences of single

vs. multiple parasitism in parasitic finches. Ecology 58: 500-513

PAYNE, R.B. (1980) Behavior and songs in hybrid parasitic finches. Auk

97: 118-134

PAYNE, R.B. (1982) Species limits in the indigobirds (Ploceidae, vidua)

of West Africa: mouth mimicry, song mimicry, and description of new

species. Mise. Publ. Univ. Mich. Museum of Zoology 162.

PAYNE, R.B. & GROSCHUPF, K.D. (1984) Sexual selection and interspecific

carpet i tion : a field experiment on territorial behavior of nonparental

finches (vidua spp.). Auk 101: 140-145

PAYNE, R.B. & LOLIETTE, M. (1983) IVhat is Lagonosticta umbrinodorsalis

Reichenow 1910? Mitt. Zool. Museum Berlin 59, Ann. Orn. 7: 157-161

1985

Parasitic finches

113

PAYNEy R.B. & PAYNE, K. (1977) Social organization and neting success in

local song population of Village Indigobirds, vidua chalybeata. z.

Tierpsychol , 45: 113-173

SEPLE, W. (1949) Birds of Sierra Leone (part IV). Ostrich 20: 114-126

SHAW, P. (1984) The social behaviour of the Pin-tailed I^iydah vidua

macroura in northern Ghana. Ibis 126: 463-473

THIOLLAY, J.-M. (1985) The birds of Ivory Coast: status and distribution.

Malimbus 1% 1-59

TRAYIXDR, M.A. (1968) Family ploceidae, subfamily viduinae. In: Checklist

of Birds of the World, vol. 14, ed. R.A, Paynter, Jr. Harvard

University Press, Cambridge, Mass.

VAN DEN ELZEN, R. & KOSIIG, C. (1983) V5gel des (Sud-) Sudan: taxonomische

und tiergeographische Bemerkungen. Bonn, Zool. Beitr. 34: 149-196

WILLIAMS, J.G. & KEITH, G.S. (1962) A contribution to our knowledge of

the Parasitic Weaver, Anomalospiza imberbis , Bull. Br. Orn. Cl. 82:

141-142

ALTERS, H (1963) Zur Rassengliederung von Pytilia melba (L.). J. Orn.

104: 1b5-190

TOLTERS, H.E. (1977) Uber die westafrikanischen Rassen des Buntastrilds ,

Pytilia melba (L.) (Aves, Estrildidae) . Bonn. Zool. Beitr. 28: 324-

330

Dr. R.B. Payne, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor

Michigan 48109, USA

114

NOTES

MALIMBUS 7

DECOUVEPTE D'UN NOUVEL AIGLE FORESTIER AU SENEGAL L'AIGLE D'AYBES Hieraaetus

dubius - J'avais été intricaié à diverses reprises depuis plusieurs années par

l'observation d'aiqles très foncés au Parc national de Basse Casamance. Il

pouvait s'aair d'immatures de Petits Serpentaires Polyboroides radiatus et

d'Aiqles fascies Hieraaetus spilogaster . Mais ces oiseaux étant observés

dans de mauvaises conditions dans un milieu forestier dense et surtout trop

rapidement, il n'était pas possible de déterminer sûrement l'espèce à laquelle

ils appartenaient.

Or la chance a voulu que dans la journée du 28.03.85 lors d'une tournée

de prospection en compagnie du conservateur du parc, l'Ingénieur des Travaux

Bertin Coly, nous puissions observer l'un de ces aigles foncés, dans de bonnes

conditions, la première fois posé, en lisière, la deuxième fois a vol. la

taille, les barres de la queue, la couleur qénérale chocolat foncé tant au-

dessus qu'audessous et sans dessins ni contrastes ainsi que l'habitat nous

incitèrent à identifier cet oiseau comme un Aiqle d' Ayres, de la phase sombre.

Le rapprochement avec, les aiales avec lesquels il pouvait être confondu tels:

l'Aigle botté, plus petit, l'Aigle ravisseur, plus grand, mais vivant en

milieu savanicole et bien connu in natura notanment au Niokolo les éliminèrent

de la compétition. Restaient les sub-adultes de H. spilogaster semblablement

de la même taille que notre oiseau mais présentant un plumage contrasté, même

dans la phase sombre, et des dessins sous les ailes.

Pour conclure, cette ultime forêt primaire qu'est le Parc national de

Basse Casamance au Sénégal recèle encore des es^ces animales très inféodées

au milieu forestier dense que ce soit pour les primates avec la Mone de

Campbell ne vivant que là au Sénégal, certains insectes relictuels notamment

pour les papillons, et plusieurs oiseaux strictement forestiers comme le

Calao à casque jaune, l'Aigle couronné et maintenant l'Aigle d' Ayres.

Direction des Parcs Nationaux , B, P. 5135, Dakar, Senegal A. R. Dupuy

^'JESTERN REEF HERgj Egretta gularis INLAND IN IVORY COAST AND NIGERIA -- In

February 1985 I saw a dark-phase Western reef heron Egretta gularis on a

golf course pond at Yamoussoukro, 06°49'N 05^1 7 'W, Ivory Coast. The

location is some 200 km inland. In June 1985 I encountered another at a

lake in Ibadan University Canpus, Nigeria. Serle & Morel (1977) state that

it "occasionally occurs on inland waters". Brown, Urban & Newman (1982,

The Birds of Africa I) state that it is rare inland and make no reference

to inland sightings of the West African race gularis (their inland records

refer only to the Nile and Rift Valley lakes) .

890^ Narem Place, Annandale , Va. 22003, USA

Stephen D. Eccles

1985

115

LES OISEAUX DES MILIEUX ROCHEUX AU SÉNÉGAL

par Gérard J. Morel

Received 23 February 1985

Le Sénéqal a la réputation incontestée d'être un pays plat. Les points

culminants des contreforts du Pouta-Djalon au Sénégal oriental dépassent à

peine 400 mètres. Ces hauteurs sont concentrées le lona de la frontière,

aux confins guinéo-maliens.

Actuellement, seule la barrière rocheuse au sud-ouest de Fédougou

(secteur Ségou-Dinndéfélou) , zone structurale de transition entre le

Sénéqal et la Guinée et les massifs situés à l'ouest de Fédougou (secteur

Bandafassi, Ibel, Ndébou) ont fait l'objet de recherches systématiques.

Cette zone régionale est comprise entre 12^20' et 12^35' de latitude nord,

par 12^29' et 12*^15' de longitude ouest..

Sur le plan structural, ces secteurs géographiques sont inclus dans une

vaste région naturelle caractérisée au sud de Fédougou, par la partie nord

du massif de Mali, partie intégrante du massif montagneux du Fouta-Djalon,

et un peu à l'ouest de Fédougou, par une zone de relief tabulaire

apparaissant en quelque sorte comme une série de buttes-témoins du massif

de Mali.

La limite septentrionale du massif de Mali est marquée par une première

ligne de falaises gréseuses orientées sensiblement est-ouest, au pied

desquelles sont situées les localités de Pélel Findessa, Dinndéfëlou, Ségou.

Ces falaises sont constituées par des grès du précambrien (forma.tion dite

de Ségou-Madinakouta) qui dominent le socle birrimien. En abordant cette

formation à Séqou, à la cote 200, (piste Fédougou-Mali) et après avoir

franchi une zone d'éboulis, sur une hauteur de 70 à 100 m environ, nous

observons jusqu'en haut de la falaise des grès durs roses ou blancs;

quelques petites passées de grès tendres et grès fins sont interstratifiées

dans cet ensemble. Certains marigots franchissent les falaises par une

succession de cascades dont certaines sont spectaculaires, leur écoulement

s'effectue parfois dans des zones d'érosion ou de déimantêlement dont les

excavations prennent souvent des allures de gorges très pittoresques. Le

franchissement de ce premier ressaut, souvent difficile, en progressant

vers le sud, permet d'atteindre une côte d'altitude moyenne de 400 m.

Ensuite on s'élève par une série de gradins et de plans faiblement inclinés

recouverts de latérite, pour atteindre finalement im plateau terminal

culiminant à 1538 m un peu au nord-est de Mali en Guinée.

Au nord de la falaise de Pélel Findessa, Dinndéfélou et Séaou s'étend,

une vaste plaine plus ou moins latéritisée sur un substratum de granites et

micaschistes d'âge birriimien, une série de collines vient rompre la

monotonie de cette plaine. A 15 km à l'ouest de Fédouaou, à peu près sur

le même parallèle, la piste Fédougou-Salémata borde un relief composé de

petits massifs tabulaires constitués par des formations primaires que

protège de l'érosion un "toit" de dolérite. Au pied, de cette falaise, des

bancs de cipolins forment de petits reliefs à faciès ruiniformes. Le point

culminant de ces massifs atteint la côte de 375 mètres sur le plateau

d'Etiès.

116

G. J. Morel

MALIMBUS 7

Le Sénégal oriental et ses œnfins iirmédiats possèdent un cliinat sahêlo-

soudanien qui n'est pas uniforme, les régions en altitude ont un climat

spécial. D'une façon générale, on peut distinguer trois saisons, saison

sèche et chaude de mars à juin, saison des pluies de juin à octobre.

Dans ce secteur de réaion, en s'acheminant vers le sud, après la steppe

arbustive, on parvient progressivement à la savane boisée. Tjes épineux

sont subordonnés aux figuiers {Ficvs glumosa, Ficus lecardii) aux faux

Kapokier {Bombax costatum) , au Fromager {Ceiba pentandra) , au Karité

{Butyrospermum parkii) , au Tamarinier {Tamarindus indica) ainsi qu'aux

bambousaies {Bambusa sp) . Le lecteur trouvera dans Adam (1965) une

description sommaire mais suggestive de la végétation de Dinndéfélou,

Le tapis herbacé est formé par des graminées, des cypéracées et des

papilionacées . Sur les crêtes oréseuses on observe des euphorbiacées . Les

"bowes", plateaux couverts d'une cuirasse latéritique, sont dépourvus de

couverture végétale pendant la saison sèche; à la suite des premières

pluies, ces surfaces sè recouvrent d'un fin gazon vert. Autour des rivières

et des marigots poussent de minces galeries forestières, sur les marigots on

observe généralemient des peuplements de Palmiers raphias {Raphia sp) et de

Roniers (Borassus flabellifer) .

Du point de vue de l'ornithologie, cette région est rebutante car les

voies d'accès y sont rudimentaires (la route bitumée s'arrête au Parc du

Niokolo-Koba) . Au-delà de Kédougou, le véhicule tous terrains est

indispensable sur la plupart des chemins.

Espèces observées

Neophron percnopterus Percnoptère d'Egypte Le 19 imars 1972, une femelle

avait été capturée près du poste-frontière de Ségou; avec des ovules de

8 mm, elle était incontestablement sur le point de pondre. Plusieurs autres

Percnoptères avaient été vus dans les environs. En mars 1984, un sevd sujet

fut aperçu dans toute la région. Les sites favorables à la nidification ne

sont pas rares dans les massifs mais aucun emplacement de nid ne fut repéré.

Il est donc impossible de préciser si la reproduction à lieu en deçà ou

au-delà de la frontière. La femelle collectée constitue le seul indice de

nidification probable au Sénégal. On ne dispose d'aucune donnée sur la

Guinée où les sites rocheux ne manquent pas. Par ailleurs, on sait qu.e les

Percnoptères paléarctiques traversent le Sahara et hivernent au Sahel (Morel

et Roux 1966) .

Falco alopex Faucon-renard Ce faucon avait déjà été observé par Thiollay,

J-M. (sans date) puis par Géroudet, P. (corn pers) en janvier 1981 au Parc de

Niokolo-Koba. En Gambie, on disposait aussi d'une observations de mai 1957,

Moyenne Vallée, de Cawkell (1965). En mars-avril 1984, 2 ou 3 sujets

évoluaient près des massifs rocheux au sud de Kédougou. Ce sont les seuls

signalements dont on dispose pour l'espèce qui ne paraît guère s'éloigner

des régions accidentées.

Columba livia Pigeon biset Sous sa race gymnocyclus , très sombre, presque

noire (sauf le croupion blanc) ce biset seimble très rare au Sénégal, Lowe,

W.P. , au début du siècle, le trouva sur les lies de la r4adeleine au large

de la presqu'île du Cap-Vert où il semble s'être imaintenu depuis, oii du

moins aux environs, car Ndao, B. (corn pers) en observa quelques-uns dans

les rochers de la côte à Farm (Dakar) . Sur les îles (Madeleine, Goree) il

ne semble pas y avoir d'observation récente irrécusable.

1985

Mileux rocheurs au Senegal

117

D'autxe part, une petite colonie existait en 1973 au village de Ndandd,

au sud de Kébémer, sur la route Dakar-Saint-Louis ; elle ocaapait deux

vastes puits désaffectés. Trois spécimens furent collectés et, malgré les

risques de croj.sement avec les pigeons du village, leur phénotype était pur.

La colonie n'a pas été revisitée. D'autres puits du même genre existent

peut-être ailleurs. Le choix des puits par le Biset est courant en Afrique

du Nord (Heim de Balsac et Mayaud 1962) . Enfin, une dizaine de Bisets

pâturaient, mêlés à une cinquantaine de Columba guinea, près du village de

Dandé, 30 km au SO de Kédougou, fin mars 1984. Nous ne revîmes pas ces Bisets

au cours de notre séjour dans la region. Mais Dupuy, A. R. (corn pers) , peu

après notre visite les trouva en nombre considérable dans la gorge de

Dinndéfélou. Rappelons que le Biset est ccmrnin dans les milieux rocheux

qui sont bien représentés en Mauritanie (Dekeyser et Villiers 1950; Y.

Prévost, corn pers) et au Mali (Lamarche 1980-1981) .

Hirundo rupestris Hirondelle de Rochers Une isolée fut collectée à

mi-chemin entre Richard-Toll et Saint-Louis sur une villa, le 15 novembre

1967. Du 13 décembre 1972 au 8 février 1973, deux hirondelles sé-

journèrent à Saint-Louis sur le nême bâtiment (Ndao in Morel et Roux 1973) .

Et du 16 au 18 décembre 1973 F. Roux, (corn pers) en observa deux près des

batiments de l'aéroport de Dakar-Yoff, Nous écrivions en 1973 que les

Hirondelles de Rochers observées au Sénégal devaient être des égarées,

puisque l'aire normale d'hivernage est située dans le nord-ouest maghrébin.

Or, les observations de Rouchouse, C. et Monnet, C. dans les falaises de

Popenguine au sud de Dakar, nous amènent à penser qu'une partie de la

population hiverne sans doute en zone guinéenne et laisse au passage des

sujets isolés au Sénégal (Rouchouse, C. en préparation).

Aucune Hirondelle de Rochers ne fut aperçue en mars 1984 mais à cette

date le départ de printemps devait avoir eu lieu.

Hirundo fuligula {Ptyonoprogne rufigula) Hirondelle isabelline Nous

avions tenté en vain de collecter des hirondelles inidentifiées le 20 mars

1972 dans la gorge de Dinndéfélou, mais ce pouvait être des H. rupestris ,

car nous étions peu familier avec ce groupe. En juillet 1982, notre

collègue Rouchouse, C. retrouva ces hirondelles mais perdit 1 ' exeitplaire

abattu. Enfin, fin mars 1984, 3 spécimens furent collectés dans cette même

gorge. Il s'agit bien de l'espèce fuligula, au dessus très sombre et à

la gorge roussâtre, bien distincte de H. rupestris et aussi de H. fuligula

obsoleta, race saharienne, collectée dans l'Adrar par Dekeyser et Villiers

(1950). Ces 3 spécimens, examinés au British Museum (Tring) sont comparables

à ceux de la race bansoensis. Souvent aperçue du pied d'une falaise, cette

espèce qui chasse haut peut être difficile à identifier avec certitude. Il

y avait plusieurs dizaines de ces hirondelles. Aucun nid ne fut découvert

et il ne semblait pas y avoir d'activité de reproduction. Cette colonie est

la première découverte au Sénégal et la plus occidentale à cette latitude.

Onychognathus morio Etourneau roupenne d'Alexander Assez curieusement,

quelques individus avaient déjà été signalés loin de tout milieu adéquat:

1 sujet entre Matam et Bakel sur un Ficus en avril 1964 (GJM et F. Roux) ;

2 sujets à 50 km à l'est de Dakar, observés par R. Lachner, (corn pers)

familier avec l'éspèce le 5 février 1983, et une petite bande en forêt de

Basse-Casamance le 19 août 1982 (A. Sala, corn pers) . On doit admettre que

cet étourneau nomadise largement. Le site de Dinndéfélou, au contraire par

ses parois verticales, son humidité qui entretient une forêt dense avec

Ficus paraît convenir à l'espèce et nous l'y avons observée par dizaines:

sujets se nourrissant de figues dans la forêt couvrant le fond de la gorae.

118

G. J. Morel

MALIMBUS 7

accrochés aux parois ou se baignant dans la chute d'eau, sur le plateau

boisé qui domine la faille profonde. Cette espèce existe dans le sud-est

mauritanien, l'Assaba (Brov/ne 1981) et au Mali (Lamarche 1981).

Cer corne la familiaris Traquet de roche à queue rousse. Ce n'est pas une

espèce strictement saxicole et nous l'avons aussi trouvée dans les forêts

sèches de boisement clair, y carrpris les bambousaies, au sol plus ou moins

encombré de pierres. En région accidentée, elle occupe les pentes avec

léger couvert arbustif ainsi que les forêts sèches des plaines voisines.

Ce traquet n'a pour le moment été observé que dans la reaion de Saraya, une

soixantaine de kilomètres au nord-est de Kédougou (une seule fois) et

communément dans la région de Kédougou en mars-avril 1984. Il reste à

préciser sa répartition qui doit dépasser les limites reconnues actuellement.

C'est une espèce discrète qui échappe facilement à l'observation.

Monticcla saxatilis Merle de roche Un mâle avait été observé le 14 mars

1972 dans une forêt sèqhe au sol brûlé près de Kédougou. Cette espèce ne

fut pas revue en 1984. Elle est observée sur les falaises de Popenguine

(sud-est de Dakar) au passaae de printeirps en petit nombre; l'hivernage ou

une tentative d'hivernage sur ce site semblent indiqués par le présence de

3 merles le 4 décembre 1982 (Morel et ai. 1983) . Il reste donc à

rechercher si des Merles de roche hivernent sur le versant sénégalais de la

frontière sénégalo-guinéenne. Réceimient, Brosset (1984) en rencontra 4 en

déconbre sur des prairies d'altitude, entre 1250 et 1400 m dans la partie

guinéenne du Mont Nimba. On sait que l'espèce hiverne aussi sur la partie

libérienne du même massif (Curry-Lindahl 1979) , de même qu. 'en Sierra Leone

(Field 1973).

Monticola solitaria Merle bleu On sait depuis peu (Morel et ai. 1983)

qu'une petite population hiverne en différents points du pays, non seulement

en des sites rocailleux: essentiellement la falaise de Popenguine avec une

vingtaine de sujets ainsi que les pentes des volcans éteints des Mairmelles ,

les îles et îlots rocheux du Cap-Vert, mais aussi çà et là sur des bâtiments

comme à Plchard-Toll ou à Nouakchott, Mauritanie, où des sujets isolés ou

des couples se cantonnent pour 1' "hiver" (BrovTne, P^'TP corn pers) . Nous

n'avons rencontré qu'un sujet F de cette espèce sur le rebord broussailleux

de la gorge de Dinndefelou. C'était le 31 mars et, à cette date, le courant

migratoire devait awir ramené vers le nord la plupart des merles.

Moreau (1972) rapporte que des Merles bleus hivernent sur la partie

libérienne du Mont Nimba et Field (1973) observa quelques sujets sur les

Monts Lomas de Sierra Leone.

Ainsi, cette espèce manifeste un éclectisme remarquable puisqu'elle

hiverne sur un gradient longitudinal quasi continu , quoique de façon très

dispersée, depuis la Méditerranée jusqu'à la région guinéenne, depuis le

niveau de la mer jusqu'à une altitude de 1700 mètres, sans dédaigner ici ou

là une simple façade d'usine.

Myrmecocichla (Thamnolea) cinnamomeiventris Traquet de roche à ventre roux

Les premiers sujets avaient été observés, fin mars 1972, dans des collines

rocheuses une vingtaine de kilomètres à l'ouest de Kédougou.

Nous avons recherché l'espèce en 1984 et l'avons trouvée commune, au

moj.ns localement près d'Ibel, à proximité des carrières de marbre, à l'ouest

de Kédougou. Ces traquets avaient l'habitude de venir bodre le soir dans

le chantier. On les trouvait aussi sur les parois escarpées de la aorge de

Dinndéf élou .

1985

Mileux rocheurs au Senegal

119

De son côté, A. R. EXipny (com pers) a observé ce traquet dans la reaion

du Mont T^sirik, Parc National du Niokolo-Koba. Dans le sud mauritanien,

le Traquet de roche a aussi été observé dans le massif de l'Aasaba (Browne

1981) . ‘

Nous somnes rede^/able à Charles Rouchouse, Géo-fAysicien de l' ORSTOM, de

la déscription du milieu dont il a bien voulu se charger.

BIBLIOGRAPHIE

ADAM, J. G, (1965 Tourisme et flore du Fouta-Djalon au Sénégal. Notes afr.

105: 12-15

BROSSET, A. (1984) Oiseaux migrateurs européens hivernant dans la partie

guinéenne du Mont Nimba. Alauâa 52: 81-101

BR(7/.iNE, P.W.P. (1981) New bird species in Mauritania. Malimbus 3: 63-72

CAV7KEIJ1,, E.M. (1965) Notes on Gambian Birds. Ibis 107: 535-540

CURRY-LIND7\HL , K. (1981) Bird Migration in Africa. 2 vol. Academic Press.

DEKEYSER, P.L. & VILLIERS, A. (1950) Contribution à l'étude du peuplement

de la Mauritanie. Bull. ifan. XII; 660-699

FIELD, G.D. (1973) Ortolan and Blue Rock Thrush in Sierra Leone. Bull.

BOC. 93: 81-82

HEIM de BALSAC, H. & MAYAUD, N. (1962) Les Oiseaux du Nord-aiest de

1 ' Afrique . Lechevalier . Paris .

LAMARCHE, B. (1980-1981) Liste commentée des oiseaux du Mali. Malimbus

2: 121-158; 3; 73-102

MOREAU, R.E. (1972) The Palearctic-African Bird Migration Systems.

Academic Press.

MOREL, G. J., MONNET, C. & ROUCHOUSE, C. (1983) Données nouvelles our

Monticola solitaria et Monticcla saxatilis en Sénégambie. Malimbus 5:

1-4

î'îOREL, G. & ROUX, F. (1966) Les migrateurs paléarctiques au Sénégal.

Terre & Vie: 19-72; 143-176

MOREL, G. & ROUX, F. (1973) Les migrateurs paléarctiques au Sénégal:

notes complémentaires. Terre <s vie 27: 523-550

Gérard J, Morel ^ Station d' Ecologie, ORSTOM, BP 20 Richard-Tol 1 , Sénégal

120

NOTES

MALIMBUS 7

PAJiASITES AND DISEA.SES OF ABDIM'S STORK Ciconia abdimii - In August 1984 a

female Abdim's Stork was captured by students during a field practical class

on the Ahmadu Bello University Farm, Zaria, Nigeria. The bird was very weak

and unable to fly, and weighed only 913 g. A large and a small tick were

attached to the right lores (Fig. 1), viiich were identified as female and

male respectively of Amblyoima variegatus . Short-bodied lice Anatoecus sp.

and long-bodied lice Esthiopterum sp. were crav/ling all over the body of the

bird. In addition there were two necrotic crrowths on the left tibia (Fi.g. 2) .

Their pathology was not determined but they may have contributed indirectly

to the bird's inability to fly. The left leg was stiff at the ankle joint,

which may have made it impossible for the bird to lift off from the crround.

A specimen study skin of the bird was prepared. Blood smears from the

heart and lungs stained with Giemsa stain revealed no blood parasites.

However examination of the gut revealed bits of cestodes in the small

intestine, probably of the family Davaineidae. Two nematodes of the famdly

Trichostrongylidae were found between the muscle and cuticle of the gizzard.

I am grateful to Dr S.A. Apeji of the Institute of Agricultural research

viio supplied the specimen, and to Professor G.K. Sv/eatman of the Department

of (Veterinary) Parasitology, Ahiredu Bello University who helped with the

identification of the parasites.

A.U. Fzealor

Department of Biological Sciences , Ahmadu Bello University , Zaria, Nigeria

121

SOME CHANGES IN THE BIRD FAUNA OF LAGOS, NIGERIA

by P. D. Alexander-Marrack , M. J. Aaronson, R. Farmer,

W. H. Houston and T. R. Mills

Received 30 July 1984

Revised 9 October 1984

The objecti^7e of this paper is to highlight recent changes in the bird

fauna of the Lagos area, Nigeria, based on observations for the years 1977-

84. It is a foilow-up of the study by Gee & Heigham (1977) , viiich covered

the years 1966-75.

The selected systematic list which follows is divided into four sections:

(a) additions to the Lagos list (9 species) ; (b) revivals (recent

observations of species previously recorded in the area only before 1966)

(9 species) ; (c) species vÆiich have increased in abundance conpared with

the status quoted by Gee & Heigham (8 species) ; (d) species, regarded as

ooirmon by Gee & Heigham, viiich have recently decreased in abundance (53

species). (For a further 121 conmon species, no significant changes have

been detected.)

Observations were concentrated in Ikoyi Park (palm hush, thickets, man-

groves) ; Ikoyi gardens; Ikoyi sandfill area; Tarkwa (Lighthouse Beach,

gardens, derived savanna, mangroves); University of Lagos ("Unilag",

Akoka) (thickets, farms, mangroves); Agbara and Isheri (forest). Occasional

visits vere made to other parts of Imagos State, such as westwards to

Badagri (derived savanna off the Badagri road near Ojo and Ibereko) , north-

west to Ipaja (forest patches) and Kande ("Captain Davies' cairp" - freshwater

swanp) , and along the north side of Lagos Lagoon: Ijede (forest patches) ,

Ikosi (sand pits) and Epe. Mist nets were used occasionally in fores c

areas.

Qualitative changes in abundance of common species (sections (c) , (d) )

have been assessed by conparing numbers of reported sightings for the two

study periods. The apparent increase of Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa

striata is in contrast to the decline in northwest Europe reported by

Wammes et al. (1983).

The large number of previously common species viiich have recently

decreased in abundance is highlighted. In the case of Roseate Tern sterna

dougallii , and possibly of other terns, the observed decrease may be part

of an overall decline in the Western Palaearctic population. For the

remaining species, the major cause of the decrease is the destruction of

habitat by the continuing rapid growth of Lagos metropolis. A sinple

analysis of this list in terms of habitat shows that 24 out of the 53

species are aquatic or marsh birds, 12 are forest species, and 13 are

savanna/mangrove species. The reduction in aquatic species is related to

the draining and urbanisation of Victoria Island and the marshes round

Apapa. The Dolphin sandfill scheme on the northwest side of Ikoyi provided

an ephemerally attractive feeding and roosting site for several species of

wader 1978/9 and 1979/80, but this area too is nov; largely dried out,

grown over with vegetation and partly covered by low-cost housing, schools.

122

P.D. Alexander-Marrack et ai.

MALIMBUS 7

etc. A further decline in the fauna can be predicted as a result of clearing

of almost all remaining forest on the south bank of the Ogun Piver at Isheri

(1981/2).

A complete list of sightings (in preparation) vjill be deposited with the

Secretary of W.A.O.S.

ABBPEVIATIONS

For observers' initials see authors' names under title; also JHB J.H.

Boelens, EP E. Pilcher, RES R.E. Sharland and AKY A.K. Yeats.

Data presentation follows the format of Gee & Heigham (1977) ,

exception that -i — i— i — ^ — i- = many observations, + + + + + = few observations,

and CC = call heard only.

REFERENCES

GEE, J. & HEIGHAM, J. (1977) Birds of Laaos, Niaeria. Bull. Nigerian Orn,

Soc. 13: 43-51, 103-132

l'JATÎ-ÎES, D.F., BOERE, G.C. & BRAAKSMA, S. (1983) (Tb what extent are

changes in abundance of passerines related to their patterns of

migration?) (In Dutch). Limosa 56: 231-242

P.P. Alexander-Marrack, c/o Thai Shell, P.O. Box 345, Bangkok, Thailand

M.J. Aaronson, c/o F.C.O. , King Charles St., London SWIA 2AH , UK

R. Farmer, St. Dominic' s , Box 44, Y aba, Lagos State, Nigeria

W.H. Houston, c/o Barclays Bank of Swaziland Ltd., P.O. Box 667,

Mbabane, Swaziland

T.R. Mills, 36 Chartfi eld Avenue, Putney, London SW15 England

1985

Lagos birds

123

MONTHS PECÜRDED

J F M A M J J A S O N D

(a) Additions to Lagos List

Ciconia abdinii

Ciconia ciconia

Me lier ax metabates

Vanellus spinosus +

Recurvirostra avosetta +

Poicephalus senega lus + + + + + +

Hirundo abyssinica +

Oriolus brachyrhynchus +

Miadina fasciata +

(b) Revivais (species not recorded 1966-75)

Accipiter erythropus + + +

Turtur brehiæri c c c c

Glaucidium perlatum

Alcedo leucogaster

Anthus cervinus

Poeoptera lugubris

+ c

c c + c c

REMARKS

Vaorant: one, Ikoyi sandfill

26/11/78 (Hainrettan weather)

(PDA-?!, AKY) ,

Vagrant: one, Ojo 1/11/81 (PDA-

M, MJA) (Bannerman mentioned

record from Warri) .

2, Tarkwa 28/10/80 (PE) .

One, Ikoyi sandfill 11/6/80

(PDAH^4) .

4 records Ikoyi sandfill Dec

1978-Jan 1979, with maximum 3

birds on 1/12/78 (PDA-M, tHH) .

Up to 8 (12/6/81), Ikoyi Park

and other parts of Ikoyi;

also Tarkwa from 1980; feral?

6, Ologe Creek (16/8/80)

(PDA-M) .

One near Ibereko, (26/3/78)

(PDA-M, VIHH) .

5 at Tarkwa (24/1/84) , probably

feral (PE') .

5 records of sinqle birds at

Isheri (1979-81 )’ (PDA-M, TRM)

Not seen in Lagos area but call,

taped at Isheri (24/5/81)

identified from Chappuis (1974)

(Call accelerates continuously

to end, unlike that of T.

tympanistria , which accelerates

to a maximum speed) (PDA-M) .

Photographed at Tarkwa 7/4/81

and 25/10/82; call heard Aug-

Feb, mainly November, sometimes

3 at a time (RF) .

One netted, Isheri 25/4/81 (PDA-

M, MJA, RES, EP) ; first record

since 1944.

One in flock of Motacilla flava,

Ikoyi sandfill 19/3/80 (PDA-M) ;

first record since 1920.

6 (including imm?) 17/9/78; 8,

24/11/79; Agbara (PDA-M, TRM,

RES) .

124 P.D.

Acrcxrephalus arundinaceus

Macrosphenus œnœlor

Myioparus plumbeus

(c) Increased in abundance

Ardeola ibis

Psittacula krameri

Phoeniculus purpureus

Onychognathus fulgidus

Criniger barba tus

Apalis flavida

Muscicapa striata

Nectartnia cyanolaema

Alexander-Marrack et ai.

MALIMBUS 7

MONTHS PECX)PDED

JFMAMJJASOND

REMARKS

+ 6 records (1979) ; song heard

at Unilag (20/1/79) (TRM,ETIH,

PDA-M) ; subsong at Ikoyi sand-

fill (PDAH:4) .

c c c Not seen in lagos area, but

calls heard (taped twice) 1981

at Ipaja and Isheri, and sub-

sequently identified from

Chappuis (1979) (PDA-M).

+ One at Agbara, 4/9/78 (PDA-M,

EÜH) .

H — h

+

+ + +

+

Continuing to increase; common,

especially near National

Theatre, Iganmu; flocks up to

80 birds; nov; present through-

out the year, although fewer in

July.

Common at Ikoyi Park (max 15) ,

with roosting movements to west

Ikoyi; also recorded at Unilag

(13/1/79) , Tarkwa (6 records)

and Victoria Island (30/9/79) .

Seen regularly in Ikoyi. Park

and gardens; one entering tree

hole (5/1/83, MIA); parties of 5

incl 3 irnm (23/9/78) and 4 incl

2 imm (28/2/81); 2 records from

forest edge/clearing Isheri l.ate

1981 (PDA-M) and one from Tarkwa

(3/3/80) (RE) .

Widespread and fairly common

Ikoyi, Victoria, Tarkwa, Agbara,

Isheri, max flock 7 (4/9/78) ;

one pair with nest material

(7/1/79) Ikoyi Park.

Fairly common at Isheri and

Arrbara in mixed feeding flocks;

voice differs from Chappuis

(1975) recordinn.

Locally common in Ikoyi man-

oroves, also at Unilag; inmature

8/10/78.

Fairly common on passage.

Fairly common Agbara and Isheri

forests; female at nest (15/11/81

(PDA^.) .

1985

Lagos birds

125

MONTHS PEOOPDED

JFMAMJJASOND

PEMARKS

(d) Decreased in abundance

Phalacrocorax africanus +

Ixobrychus minutus

Nycticorax nyctiœrax + + + +

Ardeola ralloides • ++++++

Egretta alba + + + +

Egretta intermedia + + +

Anastomas lamelligems + +

Dendrocygna viduata

+

Aviceda cuculoides +

+ Unooimnon; several sightings

Sept 1978 of iiTTO over Ikoyi; 4 over

Unilag (13/1/79) and one near

Lighthouse Beach (21/1/80).

Only recent records July-Sept,

flying over grass swairp (Ikoyi

and Tarkwa) .

+ Continuing to decline; few

record-s Ikoyi (max 9 (21/1/83)

(MJA) ; mainly immatures; one

behind Lighthouse Beach.

+ Mainly dxy season, mostly

single birds (Ikoyi sandfill) ;

max 6 behind Lighthouse Beach

(12/1/81).

+ Few records of 1-2 birds,

mainly June-Sept.

Only 4 records : 1 , Unilaa

(16/6/79); 2, Ikoyi sandfill

(18/4/80); 1, Tarkwa (23/1/80,

13/1/81) .

5 records, mainly single birds

flying over Ikorodu road and

Badagri road.

2 records from Ogun River Delta

(Ikorodu road) and one from

Ikoyi sandfill.

+ One, Tarkwa (15/12/80, 10/1/83)

(PE) .

Crex egregia

Burhinus senegalensis

+

+ 3 records from Ikoyi sandfill

and Unilag.

4 records, Tarkwa and Ikoyi

sandfill (1979).

Charadrius dubius

Records only from Ikoyi sand-

fill, vhnter 1979/80, max 4

(28/11/79) .

C. pecuarius

C. forbesi

NO RECENT RECORDS.

Numenius arquata

Tringa stagnatilis

T. ochropus

+ + 4 records of single birds

Ikoyi sandfill and Tarkv/a

(1979) .

+ + + + 1-2 birds only, Ikoyi sandfill

1973/9.

+ + + Few records mainly from Ikoyi

sandfill; msx 4 (1/12/79).

126

P.D. Alexander-Marrack et al.

MALIMBUS 7

T. totanus

Himantopus himantopus

Rostratula benghalensis

Cursorius temnrdnckii

Glareola cinerea

Stema dougalii

S. hinmdo

S. paradisea

S. albifrons

Tamix sylvatica

Tauraco persa

Clamator levaillantii

Cuculus solitariu.s

Caprimulgus climacurus

Halcyon leucocephala

Eurystomus glaucurus

Gymnobucco peli

Mirafra rufocinnamomea

Hirundo seinirufa

Psalidoprocne obscura

MONTHS RECOPDED REMARKS

JFMAMJJASOND

+ + + A — I- + + + Mainly Aug-Sept, Ikoyi sand-

fill, nax 18 (5/9/79,

7/10/79); 3 Tarkwa records.

H — I — h + + + + Records mainly Ikoyi sandfill

1978/9, max 20 (17/1/79) ;

also Iju Waterworks Road and

Ojo.

NO RECENT RECORDS.

+

+ +

+ + + + + + + + + + + +

+

+ -f + +

NO RECENT RECORDS.

Regular at Ikoyi sandfill but

numbers reduced; max 30

(27/8/80) .

NO RECHTT RECORDS,

Regular in small numbers

Lighthouse Beach; max 10

(7/9/80) .

Recent records only autumn

passage; max 2.

Uncommon Lighthouse Beach;

max 2 in breeding plumage

(3/6, 24/6/79).

One, Ikoyi sandfill (1979).

Heard more often than seen

but uncommon, Agbara and

Isheri , ikoyi Park.

Four records from Unilag,

Isheri forest only.

4 records 1981 only (Isheri,

Ipaja) .

3 records of sinole birds,

Ikoyi sandfill and Unilag.

Uncommon.

Common but in reduced numbers;

max 10 (5/1/83) (MJA) ; also

present thjroughout rainy

season 1981.

No recent records from Lagos

area.

+ +

6 records Ikoyi sandfill 1979/

80 only.

Tarkwa only (PE) .

7 records from Unilag and

Torkwa; max 7 (20/1/79) .

1985

Lagos birds

127

^mTHS RECXDRDED REMARKS

J F M A M J J A S 0 M D

Lanius collaris + + Only 2 records (1981)^ one,

Victoria Island near remain-

ing open grassland) ; 2 on

wires near Ojo.

Lairprotomis purpiireiceps + + + + Only 4 records of single birds,

Agbara and Ijede forests, and

Tarkwa.

Cinnyricincliis leucogaster + +

lœnotas guttatus + + + + +

Phyllastrephus albigularis +

Luscinia megarhynchos

Macrosphenus flavicans

Platysteira castanea + +

P. blissetti

Trochocercus longicauda ++++++

Terps iphone mfiventer + + +

Nectarinia reichenbachii + + +

N. cuprea

Euplectes afer +

Nigrita luteifrons +

Ortygospiza atricollis + + + + +

+ + 7 records from Tarkwa (max 20,

9/1/83 (PP) ) and Agbara.

+ + + Unconmon in forest areas, max

9 (15/10/78).

One pair netted (16/3/80) Agbara

(I€-ÎH,PDA-M) .

+ Sona heard on 2 days Dec 1981

in cleared area, Isheri.

NO RECENT RECORDS s checked

recordings of Chappais (1979) and

of J.H. Elgood (Lagos 1960's) bot

nothing siiailar heard 1977-81.

+ + + Uncommon, Agbara and Isheri.

NO RECENT RECORDS.

•i I I Local in mangroves; pair present

Ikoyi mangroves 1978 to April

1979, thereafter only recorded

from Tarkwa and Unilag.

+ + All recent records only frcxn

Unilag; rrex 4 (25/12/79).

+ Local in freshwater swamp,

Kande; rare at Tarkwa.

+ One near Ojo (1/11/81).

+ At least 6 males in grass swanp,

Tarkwa; also Yewa Lagoon (JHB) .

+ Uncommon; 5 records from Isheri

(1981) .

4- 5 records 1980 from Ikoyi sand-

fill, max 4 (23/8/80); 4 at

Tarkwa (1/9/81).

128

NOTES

MALBEUS 7

SaiE EGYPTIAN PLOVER NESTS IN SENEGAL - Apart from Howell's masterly paper

(1979) , there are comparatively few published data on the nesting of the

Egyptian Plover Pluvianus aegyptius . It is therefore worth recording some

details of nests found in 1985 in Senegal in the Niokola-Koba National Park.

At I'Jourang, 16 km west of Dar Salam, a nest found on 20 March contained

c/2; it still had c/2 on the last day it was checked, 25 March. At

Boufoulabe, 5 km west of Siminti, four nests were found. The first had c/2

on 20 March, c/3 by 1000 h on 21 and still 3 eggs on 28 March. The second

had 3 eggs on 20 March; one egg had hatched by about 1530 h on 21 March,

vdien a parent removed half an eggshell, ran with it for some 10m and then

ate it; a second egg hatched about 1230 h on 22 March and the third on the

afternoon of 23 March. Three young were still present on 28 March. The

third nest contained c/1 on 20 March and at 1000 h on 21; but c/2 by 1600 h

on 21 March; it still contained 2 eggs on 28 March. The fourth contained

c/1 on 20 March, c/2 on 21 March at 1000 h and still c/2 on 28 March.

If we take 'breeding season' to mean the time of egg-laying, and if v^e

take 30 days as the species' incubation period (Howell 1979) , then we have

one pair that conpleted its clutch on 20 March, two pairs that conpleted

their clutches on 21 March, one that conpleted its clutch about 18 February,

and one that conpleted its clutch between 18 and 24 February. There were

three clutches of 2 and two clutches of 3 eggs.

We thank André-Roger Eupuy, Gérard Morel and A.T. Souleymane Massaly for

friendly co-operation.

Reference

Howell, Thomas R. 1979. Breeding Biology of the Egyptian Plover. Univ.

Calif. Pubs. Zool. 113.

Michael W. Richards

Jeffery Boswall

c/o Natural History Unit, BBC, Broadcasting House, Whiteladies Road, Bristol

BS8 2LR, UK

PLAIN NIGHTJAR AT SEA OFF TORY COAST - D, Levell showed me a colour trans-

parency of a nightjar, one of txÆ) \diich appeared on SS 'Kcmandor Suirveyor'

stationed 5-8 km off Jacqueville, 05*^1 2 'N 04°25'W, I\U)ry Coast, on a day in

the period 15-20 December 1980, when the weather was calm but hazy. The

bird photographed is clearly a Plain Nightjar Caprimulgus inornatus, and it

remained on board for the best part of the day. It appears to be the first

coastal record for Ivory Coast; Thiollay {Malimbus 7, 1985: 1-59) states

that the species is a widespread dry season visitor in all savannas there,

and has occurred south at least to Lamto (06^1 3 'N) .

C.H. Fry

Aberdeen University Zoology Department , Til lydrone Avenue, Aberdeen AB9 2TN ,

UK

1985

129

SONG AND œUDTSHIP OF THE I-JATHED STAPLTOG CREATOPHORA Cl MERE A

by Walter A, Son tag Jr.

Peceived 20 May 1985

INTRODUCTiœ

Among the African stumids the Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea is con-

sidered to be the nearest relative of the genus Sturnus (Aiuadon 1943; see

also Durrer & Villiger 1970, Harrison 1963). It inhabits dry areas and is

distributed from southwestern Africa, through South Africa, East Africa and

Ethiopia, occasionally to the Arabian peninsula (Hall & Moreau 1970),

Wattled Starlings are extremely sociable (Liversidge 1961), and outside

the breeding season flocks wander distantly. When breeding, they usually

live in colonies oonprising up to 400 nests. However, rarely, in close

relation with mass reproduction of locusts, they suddenly form enormous

colonies carposing thousands of nests in a small area. A breeding colony

consists, to a large extent, of nesting communities (Liversidge 1961), within

which pairs breed and rear their own young only. Because of its extra-

ordinary sociology and ecology, the Wattled Starling might be expected to

possess particular behavioural adaptations.

The remarkable song, its function, and the visual expressive behaviour

during singing vjere studied in captive birda. Furthermore, I paid attention

to the great variation in the appearance of individuals which becomes

evident vAien they display.

METHODS

The investigation was started 12 years ago at Frankfvirt Zoo, West Germany,

where Wattled Starlings were bred and reared in large numbers. From 1974

to 1976, in Nieder-Olm near Mainz, starlings were kept in an aviary that

comprised a covered enclosure (1.8 x 2 x 2.2 m) connected to an outside

cage (6 x 3 x 2.9 m) . From 1979 to 1981, groups of birds were housed for

study in equally sized aviaries of c. 5x3x2mon Mainz University cairpus.

A control group was (and is still being) kept in a large aviary in Mainz

Municipal Park.

'UNDIRECTED' SONG

Song is uttered during courtship but does not serve territorial functions,

consistent with the fact that Wattled Starlings do not defend real terri-

tories beyond their own nests. Males often sing without directing the

song to a female; when uttering this 'undirected' song they wave their

wings.

Songs (Fig. 1) very often have a three-partite pattern with (1) a faint,

often hardly audible introductory part, (2) a louder middle section, and

130

W.A. Sontag jr.

MALIMBUS 7

(3) a 'pealing* end (vÆiich can be succeeded by further parts) . Songs

typically exceed 15 s in duration, and stepwise differences in volunie between

the different sections are characteristic.

'Undirected' song does not elicit aggression in conspecif ics . In the

moulting period, at times a male approaches a singing male and ruffles its

head plumage, hut I have not yet found an explanation of this behaviour.

I noted one instance of apparent selective attraction to an individual's

songs. 'Undirected' song of Male P attracted Male R, housed in an adjacent

aviary. Whenever P sang R tried to approach it, although it did not respond

similarly to other singing males. P was wild-caught and R zoo-bom, and

they had never lived together in one group; no sexual or agonistic

motivation was evident in either bird.

Figure 1 Sonagram of initial 18 sec of a male's single song lasting for

31 sec. Arrov's mark faint elements. In the upper line there is the

'gentle' introductory part. The very loud structures in the first half

of the last line were repeated twice in this song. 1 s = 1 second.

Sonagraph used: Kay 6061 - B.

1985

Wattled Starling courtship

131

In the iTDulting period song alters and it sounds not fully developed (in

one bird as if the voice was ' breaking ' ) . At that tijne soime coirponents

differ from those sung at other times, and there is also a dramatic change

in the contact call (Male P) . Normal voices are resumed after moulting.

Females over one year old utter 'undirected' song outside the breeding

period, but their song is not as perfect as male song.

In Wattled Starlings 'undirected' song suggests a low level of sexual

motivation, as assumed for Zebra Finches Taeniopygia guttata by Morris

(1954) and substantiated for it by castration experiments by Prove (1974) .

Both inhabit dry areas (cf. Liversidge 1961 and Immelmann 1969) and are

opportunistic breeders (Wattled Starlings only partially so; Dean 1978) ,

in which reproductive behaviour can probably always be induced very rapidly.

The gonads of C. cinerea may be kept in an 'activated' condition by means

of song. The influence of vocalizations on gonadal condition has been

demonstrated in femle Budgerigars Melopsittacus undulatus (Brockway 1965) ,

Ring Doves Streptopelia risoria (Lott et ai. 1967), and Canaries Serinus

canarius (Kroodsma 1976) ,

Because of their strikingly similar qualities it is worth conparing the

'undirected' song of Wattled Starlings with the 'solitary' song of estrildids

(Harrison 1962, Iirmelmann 1962, 1968, Morris 1958). In both cases song lacks

any epigamic function (although Wattled Starlings and estrildids do have

advertisonent songs) . Harrison (1962) described the song of estrildids as

"ooirplex utterances, frequently elaborate and prolonged", vÆiich is ‘like’

Wattled Starling song. In African estrildids, a male that is unpaired or

separated from his mate utters 'solitary' song, which is inhibited by the

presence of a conspecific (Harrison 1962) . However, in Australian

estrildids 'solitary' song is uttered within groups and in Lonchura by

different males together (Immelmann 1962) . Similarly, Wattled Starlings

often sing together, and an attraction effect was mentioned above. Some

estrildids sing with an audience (Morris 1958) .

The lack of territorial function in Wattled Starling song is due to

colonial breeding (Hoesch 1936, Liversidge 1961) and absence of territorial

defence. Hov^ever, in two breeding pairs I noticed singing during nest-reliefs.

Among estrildids, too, song does not provoke aggression (cf. Iirmelmann 1968).

caiRTSHIP

Morphologically significant characters

The individual appearance of Wattled Starlincrs differs extraordinarily.

The head can be fully feathered (except for the naked black skin stripes on

the chin and the naked yellow skin stripe on the temples) , or it can be

variably bald, v^tien patches of yellow and black skin become obvious. The

upper greater wing coverts show oreat variation in coloi.ir, beinq brown,

grey or white. Heads and wings vary individually and with sex and age, and

the head varies seasonally. Heads and wings are both displayed during

courtship .

132

W.A. Sontag jr.

MALIMBUS 7

Figure 2 'VLilture posture' of sexually motivated female.

Courtship behaviour

Sexual activity can be initiated by either sex.

Females do not have courtship songs but use 'vulture postures' (Fig. 2),

v;hen the naked temple stripes are conspicuously displayed.

Male courtship utilizes acoustic and optical sionals. It conmences with

the male lowering and slightly spreading the wing next to the female. With

the wing hanging close to the body, the upper primary coverts become partly

visible. As the male approaches the female its lateral display is succeeded

by a more frontal one, with the plumage puffed out. From in front, the

underparts appear enlarged and smooth; from behind they look ruffled and

unkempt. The white rump is extremely ruffled, contrasting nerkedly with the

spread dark rectrices (Fig. 3) . Both wings are then lifted, held in a

roughly horizontal position, and quivered. The differences in colouring

between the dark remdges, highly variable coverts, and grey scapulars and

back become conspicuous. Individual differences in the coverts are more

evident in frontal than in lateral display. During the frontal display

the male's legs are bent and head lowered, and the front part of his body

performs thrusting irovements, accentuating the head marks.

During lateral and frontal display the male sinas, the song being identical

with the 'undirected' song.

Absent behaviours

It should be stressed that Wattled Starling courtship does not incorporate

several behaviour patterns that occur in other starlings, namely courtship

feeding, billing, allopreening, 'nodding', and duettina (cf. Rowan 1955,

Harrison 1963, Sontag 1983) .

1985

Wattled Starling courtship

133

Figure 3 Male (on right) courting a sexually non-motivated female.

OTHER POSSIBLE RTNCTICNS OF SONG

A spontaneous reaction to a distant singing bird, or probable aural

recognition of song of a hidden social partner , was observed in at least three

dyads (two being male-male and one female-male). Individual song recogni-

tion is most likely to occur. Another function of song may be sex recog-

nition. In a long-term study of three males and five females in Nieder-Olm,

only the males sang, but both sexes ’twittered' producing a 'degenerate' song.

Singing during nest-relief might serve to strengthen the pair-bond or

as a greeting or merely for mate recognition; or it might result from

mctivational conflict.

COMPARISON TOTH EUROPEAN STARLING

Because of the close relationship between the European Starling Sturnus

vulgaris and the ’t'^attled Starling the following behavioural differences

should be pointed out. Liversidae (1961) mentioned acoustic mimicry in

Wattled Starlings. Although I studied a great number I did not find

evidence for interspecific sound imitation, with perhaps one exception;

one female frequently uttered a clicking sound that I have never heard

uttered by ciny other individual. In European Starlings acoustic mimicry

is carmon (Feare 1984) .

Feare (1984) noted that in European Starlinas sinaina is accompanied by

wing-flicking and wing-flailina; although he suagested that Wattled.

Starlings wing-flail it seems to differ frm the wing-waving described above.

134

W.A. Sontag jr.

MALIMBUS 7

Sl'MM/VRY

Wattled Starlings Creatophora cinerea were studied in captivity in Germany.

Both sexes sing (slightly dissimilarly), songs often lasting for over 15

sec. Individual song recognition is very lihely. Male song may be

uttered 'undirected' (not addressed to a female) . In twc pairs sinaing

occurred during nest relief. 'Undirected' song is accompanied by vjing-

waving. A male sings vhile nerformina lateral and frontal display.

Head pattern and individual differences in wina colouring are conspicuous

durina display. Female song plays no role in sexual behaviour; females

indicate sexual motivation with a 'vulture posture' .

This paper is in honour of the sixtieth anniversary of Prof Dr

Jürqen Nicolai.

ACKNa'JLEDGEMENTS

I thank Prof Dr.J. Nicolai (Wilhelmshaven) for allowing me to use the sona-

graph in the Institut fiir Voaelforschung in Wilhelmshaven; I ami grateful

to Mrs K. Dietrich for help in making sonagrams. Mrs D. Mantell and Mrs

J. Wiesel helped with translation.

REFERFNŒS

AMADON, D. (1943) The genera of starlings and their relationships. Am.

Mus. Novitates , no. 1247, 16 pp

BPC)G<WAY, B.F. (1965) Stimulation of ovarian development and egg laying

by male courtship vocalizations in Budgerigars {Melopsittacus undulatus) .

Anim. Behav . 13: 575-578

DFAN, w.p.j. (1978) Plumaae, reproductive condition and moult in non-

breeding Wattled Starlings. Ostrich 49: 97-101

DUPRER, H. & VILLIGEP, W. (1970) Schillerfarben der Stare (Stumidae) .

J. Orn. Ill: 133-153

FFARE, C. (1984) The Starling. Oxford, Oxford University Press

HARRISCN, C.J.O. (1962) Solitary song and its inhibition in seme

Estrildidae. J. Orn. 103: 369-373

HARRISON, C.J.O. (1963) The displays of seme starlings (Sturnidae) , and

their taxonomic value. Ardea 51 : 44-52

HOESCH, W. (1*^36) Nester und Gelege aus dem Damaraland. II. J. Orn.

84: 3-20

IMMEIMANN, K. (1962) 7\nmerkunQ 2 zu C.J.O. Harrison: Solitary song and

its inhibition in some Estrildidae. J. Orn. 103: 3~’5-311

BflELMANN, K. (1968) Zur bioloaischen Bedeutung des Estrildidenaesanaes.

J. Orn. 109: 284-299

IMMEIMANN, K. (1969) Der Zebrafink {Taeniopygia guttata). 2nd ed.

Wittenberg, A. Ziemsen

KROODSMA, D.E. (1976) Reproductive development in a female songbird:

differential stimulation by quality of male song. Science 192: 574-575

1985

Wattled Starling courtship

135

LIVERSIDGE, R. (1961) The Wattled Starling {Creatophora cinerea) (Meuschen) .

Ann. Cape Prov. Mus. 1: 71-80

LOTT, D. , SŒ0LZ, S.D. & LEHRMAN, D.S. (1967) Exteroceptive stimulation

of the reproductive system of the female Ring Dove (Streptopelia

risoria) by the mate and the colony milieu. Anim. Behav. 15: 433-437

MORRIS, D. (1954) The reproductive behaviour of the Zebra Finch

{Poephila guttata) , with special reference to pseudofemale behaviour

and displacement activities. Behaviour 6: 271-322

^C>RRIS, D. (1958) The coirparative ethology of grassf inches (Erythrurae)

and mannikins (Amadinae) . Proc. Zool. Soc. Bond. 131: 389-439

PWVE, E. (1974) Der Einfluf von Kastration und Testosteronsubstitution

auf das Sexualverhalten mannlicher Zebrafinken. J. Orn. 115: 338-347

RQ'IAN, M.K. (1955) The breedinq biology of the Red-^ùnged Starling

Onychognathus morio^ Ibis 97: 663-705

SCNTAG, JR., W.A. (1983) Untersuchungen zur Soziologie des happen-

stars Creatophora cinerea (Meuschen^ 1787) und ein Vergleich mit anderen

Starenarten ( sturnidae ) . Ph.D. thesis, UniversitSt Mainz.

Walter A. Sontag jr,, Institut fur Zoologie, Università’t , Saarstr. 21,

D-6500 Mainz, West Germany

136

NOTES

MALMUS 7

LAPGE-SCALE MOVEMENTS OF COMMON PRATINOOLE Glareola prat incola AT JURA,

SUDAN - On the evening of 3 April 1983 I observed a large flock of about

20,000 pratincoles at Juba, southern Sudan. The flock passed overhead

at an altitude of 200-300 metres, follov/ing the Nile northwards, taking

about 30 minutes to do so. This was just before dusk; after dark further

flocks of unknown size were heard passing northwards. On 4 and 5 April

sightings continued with over 20 more flocks, each of 100-1000 birds all

passing northwards. Feeding flocks of several hundreds were seen twice

away from the Nile, hawking insects over rough wasteland.

All birds seen sufficiently well to be identified were Glareola pratincola ,

not G. nordmanni , although vhich of the three races recognized by Brosset

(1986, in E.K. Urban, C.H. Fry and S. Keith, eds. The Birds of Africa, 2)

{pratincola , erlangeri , fulleborni ) is involved it is not possible to

determine. The fact that all the sightings, except those of feeding birds,

were of flocks moving in one direction, and that such flocks were seen or

heard moving during both day and night suggests that the birds were migrating;

it seems most unlikely that they were merely feeding or roosting movements,

since similar sized flocks were not seen on subsequent days, nor were any

'sizeable flocks seen on the three days prior to 3 April..

The dates of these sightings coincide with those for migrating

G. p. pratincola (Cranp & Simmons, 1983, The Birds of the Western Palearctic ,

3) . The wintering range of this race is the southern ed.ne of the Sahara

from Senegal to Ethiopia. The southern limit appears to be unknown, tho\agh

it may be around 5^ in southern Ethiopia (Cramp & Sinmons, 1983). Juba

also lies at that latitude (4^52 ’N) , so that G. p. pratincola may winter

further south than previously recognized.

Department of Zoology, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia F.R. Lambert

A NEW NORTHERN CARMINE BEE-EATER COLONY - On 19 March 1985 we saw an assembly

of Carmine Bee-eaters Merops nubicus nubicus in trees on a high bank of the

Gambia river at I^urang (13O08'N, 13'^18'W) , 16 km west of Dar Salam in the

Niokola-Koba National Park, Senegal, and on 23 March M.hLR. found a two-part

colony at the bottom of the cliff. About 400 birds had assembled at one

poj.nt and about 800 at another about 500 m av/ay; most were actively burrowina

and many appeared paired. The site is additional to those listed by Fry

{The Bee-eaters, 1984, Poyser) . J.G. Morel tells us that on 1 June 1961

he saw Carmine bee-eaters digqing into a bank of the Senegal River 1 km above

Bakel (14056 'N 12O20'V0.

200 m further west J.B. observed a colony of c. 80 Red-throated Bee-

eaters M. bullocki on 29 March, when they appeared to be feeding young.

M.W.R. filmed large young at several holes on 25 March 1985.

Jeffery Boswall

Michael W. Richards

c/o Natural History Unit, BBC, Broadcasting House, Whiteladies Road, Bristol

BS8 2LR, UK

1985

137

NOIES CQMPr.EMINTAIPES SUR L'AVIFAUNE DES PARCS NATIONAUX

DE L'ARLI (BURKINA) ET DE LA PENDJARI (BENIN)

par Yves Thonnerieux

Received 9 October 1984

Depuis la publication de l'article de Green & Sayer (1979) , deux courtes

visites effectuées dans la zone des parcs de l'Arli et de la Pendjari ont

permis débjt mars 1982 et 1984 d'apporter quelques œnrpléirents à l'étude de

nos prédécesseurs.

Modifications du statut de certaines espèces figurant dans la liste de

Green S Sayer (G & S par la suite)

Ardeola ralloides Héron crabier Donné fréquent de décen±»re à mars par

G & Sj oteervé aux mares Diwouni et Tiabiga le 07/04/82.

Anastomus lamelligerus Bec-ouvert Deux observations de G & S en

novenbre et décenbre; probablonent rare mais régulier en mars puisque

contacté a nos deux passages les 04/04/82 (mare Yangou.ali) et 07/04/84

(rivière Arli) .

Circus py gar gus Busard cendré Fréquent selon G & S de décembre à mars;

encore présent à la mare Bali le 05/04/82.

Polemaetus bellicosus Aigle martial Une unique observation de G & S en

décOTbre^ statut plutôt surprenant de la part de ce grand prédateur qui

peut trouver des proies à volonté dans les deux parcs; un adulte tente

de surprendre un groupe de Pintades comnunes Numida meleagris le 05/04/84

au bord du Doulxdo par la piste de Wanou.

El anus riocouril Naucler d'Afrique Fréquenænt noté par G & S de

décembre à mars; enœre commun début avril; cinq ensemble le 04/04/82

dans le parc de la Pendjari^ deux à la mare Divouni le 06/04/82, deux dans

le parc de l'Arli le 05/04/84.

vanellus tectus Vanneau à tête noire Donné conme fréquent de décembre à

mars par G & S; un œuple encore présent dans la savane près de la

rivière Pendjari le 06/04/84.

Tringa ochropus Chevalier culblanc Rarement observé en janvier-février

par G & S; 3 contacts en mars: un sujet le 07/04/82 à la mare Tiabiga,

un le 05/04/84 au bord du Doubalo, quelqies le 06/04/84 le long de la

Pend j ar i .

T. erythropus Chevalier arlequin Rare d'après G & S de janvier h mars;

un Individu le 07/04/82 à la mare Tiabiga, deux le 04/04/84 avant la mare

Penbato.

Calidris minuta Bécasseau minute Cité une fois en janvier par G & S;

10 sujets observés à la mare Pembato le 04/04/84.

138

Y. Thormerieux

MALIMBUS 7

Caprimulgus climacurus Engoulevant à longue queue Quelques cas cités par

G Sr S en janvier-février; semble-t-il réoulier en awi].: deux le 04/04/82

dans le parc de la Pendjari, un le 06/04/84 au village d'Arli,

Merops pusillus Guepier nain Rarement noté en décembre, janvier et

septembre par G & S; une observation à la mare Yangouali le 04/04/82.

Motacilla flava Bergeronnette printanière Notée "rare" en mars-avril par

G & S; nous l'avons pour notre part régulièrement observée, il est vrai en

petit nombre, en bordure de la plupart des mares et cours d'eau début avril

1982 et 1984.

Corvus albus Corbeau pie Statut de résident fréquent de janvier à décembre

dans le travail, de G & S; pourtant, en dix jours d'observations soutenues

détut avril des deux années, nous n'avons contacté l'espèce qu'une fois,

d'ailleurs en limite des parcs, près du massif de l'Atakora.

P. phoenicurus Rouge-queue à front blanc Noté fréquent par G & S de

décembre à février; un le 06/04/82 à la mare Divjouni.

Hippolais pallida Hypolais pâle Une citation de G & S en janvier;

apparemment régulier en avril: un le 04/04/82 et un autre le 06/04/84 dans

les galeries forestières où il se montre très discret.

Camarcptera brachyura Camaroptère è dos gris Rarement observé par G & S

en janvier et juillet; deux contacts le long de l'7\rli près du village les

04 et 07/04/84.

Eremomela pusilla Erénonèle à dos vert Espèce fréquente pour G & S en

juillet et novembre; une le 05/04/82 à la mare Yangouali, une le 07/04/82

à la mare Diwouni.

Muscicapa aquatica Gobemouche des marais Bizarrement noté en juillet

seulement par G & S; abondant pourtant en avril dans tous les milieux

boisés près de l'eau.

Emberiza tahapisi Bruant cannelle Fréquent selon G & S en juillet et

novembre; très commun en avril au bord des divers points d'eau en

association avec d'autres espèces de Ploceidés.

Passer griseus Moineau gris G & S le donnent fréquent en janvier-fébrier ;

deux observations autour d'Arly près de l'eau les 04 et 07/04/84.

Petronia dentata Petit Moineau soulcie Fréquent en janvier (G & S) ; par

groupes aux points d'eau les 05/04/82 (mare Bali) et le 07/04/84 (rivière

Arly) .

Pytilia phoenicoptera Diamant aurore Fréquent en février, octobre et

novembre (G & S) ; observé et capturé les 06 et 07/04/84 le long de l'Axli

près du village.

Estrilda troglodytes Bec de corail cendré Rare en février d'après G & S;

une centaine ensemble le long de la Pendjari le 06/04/84, une dizaine le

07 près d'Arli.

Lonchura malabarica Bec d'argent Rare en décembre et en mars (G & S);

quelques individus à Arli le 07/04/84.

1985

ArLi (Burkina) et Pendjari (Benin)

139

Liste des espèces nouvelles pour les deux parcs

Threskiornis aethiopica Ibis sacré Un sujet le 07/04/82 à la mare Tiabiga.

Anas querquedula Sarcelle d'été Un imle le 07/04/82 entre les mares Divouni

et Tiabiga. Il est plutôt surprenant que cet Anatidé qui hiverne en effectifs

considérables en Afrique occidentale n'ait pas été noté auparavant dans les

deux parcs, alors que la Sarcelle d'hiwr A. crecca, rare dans la meme zone

géographique, bénéficie d'une mention de G & S.

Falco alopex Faucon renard Probablenent assez régulier en avril puisque

noté une fois chaque année: un le 05/04/82 à la mare Bali, un autre le

07/04/84 près d'Arli.

G. gallinago Bécassine des marais Une à la mare Di^AOtuni le 06/04/82.

Hirundo leucosoma Hirondelle à ailes tachetées Une survolant la gai.erie

forestière de la Pendjari le 06/04/82.

Lamprotornis chloropterus Merle métallique de Swainson Observations et

capture les 06 et 07/04/82 près du village d'Arli,

Chlorocichla flavicollis Grand Bultul à gorge jaune Une observation le

08/04/82 un peu au Sud de la ILmite du parc de la Pendjari, dans la forêt

galerie de la cascade de Tanougou.

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus Phragmite des joncs Un chanteur attribué

à cette espèce le 04/04/82.

Phylloscopus bonelli Pouillot de Bonelli Quelques sujets le 04/04/84 dans

la galerie forestière de l'Arli, près du village.

Nectarinia verticalis Soui-manaa olive à tête bleue Un individu le

08/04/82 à la cascade de Tanougou.

Amadina fasciata Cou-coupe Quelques sujets au bord de la Pendjari le

06/04/84 .

REMERCIïMEOTS

Il nous est agréable de remercier ici l'Institut de Recherche en Biologie

et Fcologie Tropicale de Ouagadougou avec le soutien duquel nous effectuâmes

la mission d'avril 1984, Notre gratitude s'adresse aussi aux collègues du

voyage d'étude d'avril 82: Josy Defour, Serge Honore et Marie-France Le

Pennec, tous nombres du Centre Ornithologique Rhône-Alpes.

REFERENCE

GREEN, A. A. & SAYER, J. A. (1979)

Parks (Benin and Upper-Volta) .

The birds of Pendjari and Arli National

Malimbus 1: 14-28

Yves Thonnerieux , Centre Ornithologique Rhône-Alpes , Labo de Zoologie,

Université Lyon I, 43 Bd. du 11 novembre 1918,

69622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France

140

NOTES

MALIMBUS 7

PEICHENBACH ' S SUNBIRD Nectarinia reichenbachii TO IVOPY OOAST - EXirinq

a brief visit to Ivory Coast in September-October 1983 I saw single exanples

of v^at could only have been male Reichenbach ' s Sunbdrds Nectarinia reichen-

bachii, at two localities 10 km apart. The first was a fleeting and unsat-

isfactory view in the newly-established Parc National d'Azagny, at the

western end of Ebrié lagoon which extends for some 90 km west of Abidjan;

the second, a week later, was at Grand-Lahou, 05*^09 'N, 05*^01 'W on Bandama

River. The first bird was with Collared Sunbirds Anthreptes collaris , Olive

Sunbirds N. olivacea and Olive-bellied Sunbirds N. chloropygia in scattered

trees and shrubs in a grassy area near thick forest; the second one, which

gave much better viewTs, was in flowering trees in a hotel garden. It had

metallic blue head and throat, olive green upperparts, orey breast, and

yellow on the belly and undertail coverts. This combination of features

rules out a. collaris, the Blue-throated Brow;n Sunbird N. cyanolaema and the

Yellow-bellied Sunbird N. venusta, the most similar species which occur in

Ivory Coast.

Reichenbach ' s Sunbird occurs sparsely throughout the Congo basin, is

locally common in Gabon and Cameroon (Serle & Morel 1977) , a "very local

not uncommon resident" near rivers, lagoons and gardens in south Nigeria

(Elgood, The Birds of Nigeria, 1982) , and occurs sparingly in Ghana (Serle

& Morel 1977) , but has not been reported hitherto in Ivory Coast (Thiollay,

1985 Malimbus 1) .

8904 Narem Place, Annandale , Va. 22003, USA Stephen D. Eccles

ORIOLE BABBLER Hypergerus atriceps NEAR COAST OF IVORY COAST - During a

visit to Parc National d'Azagny in October 1983 I came across several Oriole

babblers Hypergerus atriceps in heavy forest with clearings. The Parc is

on the coast of Ivory Coast, in the forest zone 90 km west of Abidjan.

Thiollay (1985, Malimbus 7: 45) states that the species is widespread in

Ivory Coast north of 07^30 'N and rarer south to Lamto, 06Ol3'N.

8904 Narem Place, Annandale, Va. 22003, USA Stephen D. Eccles

RINGING IN NIGERIA 1984 - No ringing was carried out in 1984 but three

recoveries were reported:

Garganey Anas querquedula

Ringed 5 February 1978, Kazaure (Nigeria) 12^40'N, 08°25'E

Shot 14 August 1978, EXmai River, Odessa (USSR) 45^20 'N, 29^40 'E

House Martin Delichon urbica

Ringed 10 Septemter 1983, Rye Meads (UK) 51*^47'N, 0°0'E

Caught by child 26 February 1984, Ik\-r) (Nigeria 06°05'N 08^06 'E

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava

Pinged 6 February 1973, Vcm (Nigeria) 09O50'N, 08°50'E

Caught by cat 22 July 1980, Malaska, Oulu (Finland) 64*^24 'N 26‘^20'E

Pinged 8 March 1977, Kano (Nigeria) 12°00'N, 08°32'E

Found dead 16 July 1981, Kozelets, Chernigov (USSR) SO'^SS'N, 31®00'E

(4787 km, 1591 days) .

R.E. Sharland

Flat 7, Elmsdown Court, Southampton Road, Ringwood , Hants BH24 IJE , UK

1985

141

OBSERVATIONS OF ALLEN'S GALLINULE PORPHYRIO ALLENI AT MOMBASA, KENYA

by P.B. Taylor

Received 17 July 1985

Revised 6 September 1985

INTRODUCTION

Allen's Gallinule Porphyria alleni is widespread over much of sub-Saharan

Africa, from Senegal to Somalia and South Africa. It is mainly migratory,

north and south of the Equator, breeding during the wet season and then

migrating to lower latitudes, but the extent of migration is not known and

in areas where habitat remains suitable throughout the year it may be

sedentary (Keith, in press) . In East Africa it is a local and generally

uncoimon resident in permanent swanps, but in some areas it may wander or

occur seasonally (Britton 1980). It is reasonably ccirnion on Zanzibar and

Pemba islands (Pakenham 1979) . Like other gallinules it is an inveterate

wanderer, and is the only Afrotropical bird vhich regularly occurs as a

vagrant to Europe (Cranp & Sirrmons 1980) .

Although ccnmon in some parts of Africa, Allen's Gallinule has been

little studied, and little is known of its habitat and habits (Keith in

press) . I became familiar with it in Zambia from 1974 to 1980 and on

moving to Mombasa (Kenya) in Dec 1980 I found a small, easily observable

nonbreeding population at a dam near Bamburi. Allen's Gallinule had been

recorded there in previous years (EANHS 1978, 1980) tut its status on the

Kenya coast was unclear (Britton 1980) . I visited the dam frequently

throughout 1981 and occasionally in 1982 and 1983. Few Allen's Gallinules

were present after early 1982, owing to a drastic fall in water level. Data

on its habitat, seasonality, habits, moult and breeding, from Bamburi,

Zambia and elseviiere in Kenya, are given below, together with a coiparison

with four other water birds sharing its habitat at Bamburi.

THE STUDY AREA

Most observations were made at a permanent dam near Bamburi (03^59 'S 39*^42 'E) .

In 1980-81 the dam and its reedbeds covered 1.96 ha of a shallow valley in

overgrazed and eroded grassland. Regular observations of rails were also

made at nearby Nguuni (Taylor 1985) , in little-eroded grassland with

several small dams of areas from 0.1 to 0.8 ha. The area is 30-60

m a.s.l. and is 4 km inland.

The margins of the dam were frequently visited by people and stock, but

the reedbeds and open water were undisturbed (except at periods of very low

water) . Dense beds of Typha (total area 0.55 ha) and Cy parus (0.1 ha)

extended along 690 m of the 750 m of shoreline and up to 25 m into the

water. Water-lilies Nymphaea and patches of Nile Cabbage Pistia stratiotes

covered about 0.74 ha of the shallow water by the reedbeds; the remaining

0.57 ha was open water. These values are for the dam at its greatest area.

In Aug-Sept 1981 about 0.26 ha of the reedbeds dried out and were trampled

142

P. B. Taylor

MALIMBUS 7

by cattle, floating vegetation decreased by c. 0.25 ha, and the shallows

became mud banks. Recovery of the vegetation was rapid as the dam filled

up in Sept. The small dams on the Nguuni property had little or no floating

vegetation and were partially fringed with Typha (on the larger dams only)

and Cyperus.

Rainfall in 1981 was normal (R Haller, pers. comm.) (Table 1). During

the 'long rains' (Mar-June) and the 'short rains' (Oct-Dec) the dam was fed

by streams. Conditions in Feb and Sept were greatly iirproved by the dam

being filled by inflow from a nearby leaking water pipeline at a time when

the water level was falling rapidly (Table 1 ) .

Table 1 Allen's Gallinules, rainfall, water levels and habitat extent

at Bamburi, Dec 1980 to Dec 1981. Parenthetic figures are estimates.

* Given as a percentage of the maximum during the study period and includes

feeding and rxxDsing areas.

1985

Allen's Gallinule

143

METHODS

101 visits to the dam were made from 20 Dec 1980 to 28 Dec 1981 , at

intervals of 1-10 days, mainly at 0615-0815 h and 1700-1845 h. Observations

were made from the open shore; most visits included a walk around half of

the shoreline with my dog. Accurate counts were made from Apr to Dec 1981

of Allen's Gallinules, Purple Gallinules P. porphyria and Moorhens Gallinula

chloropus. Numbers of Black Crakes Amaurornis flavirostris and African

Jacanas Actophilornis af ricana were estimated (Table 2) . The Nguuni dams

were also visited frequently, 379 visits being made to the whole area.

Allen's Gallinules were seen on all visits to the study dam and were not

difficult to observe. It was not necessary to flush them from cover with

the dog as they readily fed in the open during the day. At the Nguuni dams,

however, there were few open areas, and the few records there were of

birds flushed from cover by the dog.

HABITAT PREFERENCES

Allen's Gallinules used the reedbeds for cover, roosting and feeding. The

2.5 m high stands of Typha were used much more than the dense, 1.5 m high

beds of Cyperus (about 15% of the reedbeds). The preference for Typha may

have been in part due to its location, as most Cyperus was either on the

shoreward side of the Typha or in shallow inlets some distance from open

feeding areas. Areas of floating Nymphaea leaves and of Pistia were used

for feeding.

At the small Nguuni dams 11 sightings of Allen's Gallinules were

made, seven in Typha and four in Cyperus, all at times of high population

at the study dam; none of these birds remained for more than 15 days.

Elsev^here at Bamburi, Allen's Gallinules were absent from a large seasonal

pool with emergent grass, much Nymphaea but no permanent reedbeds. In

central and western Kenya I have observed them at small dams (a) with

Cyperus and Nymphaea, and (b) with Typha and Papyrus C. papyrus beds and

Nymphaea, but not at dams in the same areas (a) with extensive Typha beds

and floating vegetation of matted grass and Pistia, and (b) with Typha and

Cyperus cover and only Polygonum senegalense as surface vegetation.

At Itawa swamps, Ndola (Zambia: 12‘^57'S 28°47'E) , 1600 visits in six

years produced only one sighting of a bird on Nymphaea at the edge of

extensive Typha and reed Phragmites beds in permanent swanp. Large areas

of floating vegetation were scarce at the swairp edge, and open areas

within the swairps, v^ere birds may have occurred, were inaccessible.

Allen's Gallinules occur seasonally elsev^ere in Copperbelt Province, in

habitat like that at Bamburi but without Pistia and sometimes with

Polygonum. At Lochinvar (Kafue Flats 1 5*^47 'S 27^1 4 'E) they are seasonally

quite numerous (Taylor 1979) where there are Papyrus beds and floating

vegetation, including Nymphaea.

Purple Gallinules at Bamburi occupied Typha beds but fed little on

floating vegetation; Black Crakes frequented Typha and Cyperus, adjoining

floating vegetation and shoreline in grass and tangled vegetation. Moorhens

used Typha for cover and fed in open water and among floating plants,

African Jacanas used all of the reedbeds for cover and fed on floating

vegetation and on short grass among Acacia saplings on the shore.

144

P. B. Taylor

MM..IMBUS 7

r^IGRATIONS AND PATTERN OF OCCURRENCE

Numbers of Allen's Gallinules varied considerably during the study period

(Table 1). Of c. 20 birds in Dec 1980, most departed in late Mar 1981

leaving three adults in Apr-May. In mid-June four juveniles and three

adults arrived, and in Sept there was a further influx of 20 juveniles and

seven adults. 30 birds remained until the end of the year, the juveniles

apparently moulting into adult plumage (Table 1 ) . At Nguuni dams birds were

irregularly present in Sept-Dec, suggesting local movements then.

The late March exodus coincided with the start of the long rains, viien

habitat became extensive (Table 1 ) . Habitat was at its maximum extent in

April-May viien bird numbers were lowest, and remained so until well after

the June influx. The new arrivals remained, despite habitat decrease in

July-Aug, and when the Sept influx occurred the habitat was at its least

extensive.

Moorhens increased markedly in Feb-Mar, decreased in Apr, and increased

from mid-Sept until Dec (Table 2) . One pair bred at the end of the long

rains. African Jacana numbers fell in late Mar-/^r and rose in Oct-Nov;

seme birds remaining in the long rains nested. Black Crakes bred after the

long rains and numbers showed no major fluctuations. Of these Puirple

Gallinules in Mar, only one remained until 8 Nov; these are the first

coastal Kenya records of this species (Britton 1980) .

POPULATION

Birds utilised all of the available habitat only from Sept to Dec 1981 (the

time of maximum population) , \dien observations here and at Nguuni suggested

that these 30-35 resident birds fed entirely at the study dam. Floating

vegetation, increasing to 0.74 ha in Oct-Nov, provided the main feeding

area. Open water was little utilised; some feeding occurred in up to 0.65

ha of reedbeds, mainly at the edge of Typha beds in about 0.13 ha of habitat.

Thus a total feeding area of 0.87-1 .39 ha supported a maximum of 35 birds

(density of 25-40 birds/ha) . They roosted and sheltered in 0.55 ha of Typha

beds (maximum density of 64/ha) .

BREEDING, BREEDING SEASON AND MOULT

Breeding did not occur either at Bambori or Nguuni in 1981. Arrivals at

Bamburi in June and Sept had probably recently bred elsewhere. The three

juveniles first seen on 10 June were only 90% grown but they fed

independently and associated with a pair of adults for only three weeks.

One juvenile first seen on 14 June, and most of the juveniles which

appeared in Sept, were fully grown and scarcely associated with adults.

The June juveniles had not moulted to adult plumage by the end of Aug;

proportions of birds in juvenile plumage from Sept indicate that most

juveniles moulted in Oct-Dec (Table 1).

The periods of incubation, fledging and post-fledging dependence,

and the timing and duration of post- juvenile moult in Mien's Gallinule

are not known. Information about other similar-sized rails is very

limited, but estimates can te made from figures in Cramp s, Simmons (1980) .

1985

Allen's Gallinule

145

Table 2 Niunbers and breeding reœrds (B) of Black Crakes, Moorhens,

Purple Gallinules and African Jacanas at Bamburi, Dec 1980 to Dec 1981.

Parenthetic figures are estimates.

Assuming an incubation period of 21 days (Purple Gallinule 23-25, Moorhen

21-22, Coot Fulica atra 21-24) and a fledging period of 55 days (Purple

Gallinule over 60, Moorhen 40-50, Coot 55-60) , juveniles wDuld be fully-

fledged about 75 days after egg-laying. At that age they may not be

independent or capable of sustained flight, and I assume that they become

so vtien they are about 60 days old (Purple Gallinule up to 56, Moorhen

average 72, Coot 55-60) i.e. about 80 days after egg-laying.

On these assunptions, the June juveniles wauld have been hatched from

eggs laid in late Mar-early Apr. Some of the Sept juveniles could have been

of similar age and others were possibly from eggs laid as late as June- July.

Thus the breeding season was probably Mar- July, during and just after the

long rains in coastal Kenya (Brown & Britton 1980) . The June juveniles

could not be identified with certainty after the Sept influx, and moulting

birds in Oct-Dec could have been 3-5-5 months old at the start of moult and

5-5-8 months old at the end. Body moult in some was apparently ccîipleted

in about 2 months.

BARE PARTS

A half-grown chick in Zambia had a grey bill and shield, pinkish legs and

dark brown eyes. Fully-grown birds' bare parts colours agree with those

given in Cramp & Simmons (1980) . At what age birds assume adult bare parts

146

P. B. Taylor

I^ÎALIMBUS 7

colours is not known; one juvenile in late July, c. 100 days old, had dull

adult bare part colours. One in r4ay, 'adult' but with a rather dull bill

and shield, could have been 5-5-12 months old.

BEHAVIOUR

The Allen's Gallinules appeared indifferent to people and were quite bold,

at times venturing up to 35 m from cover on floating vegetation. They were

much more confiding than Black Crakes and Purple Gallinules. A bird

alarmed far from cover raised its tail to display the vhite undertail

coverts and then either flew or ran rapidly into the reedbeds with long

strides and lowered head. A bird disturbed close to cover flicked its

tail repeatedly, adopted an upright pose and moved into cover quietly with

short steps.

They were most active from just after dawn (0630 h) to at least 0930 h

and from 1745 h to dusk (about 1830 h) , v^en the entire population was in the

open. There was little activity during the hottest part of the day (1200 h

to 1600 h) and one visit on a moonlit night showed no activity. All five

species roosted in the reedbeds, Allen's and Purple Gallinules probably in

tall stands of Typha.

At all times except Apr-May adults often fed in pairs. Adults

actively defended their immediate feeding area, and that of any accorpanying

juveniles, chasing away other Allen's Gallinules which approached closer

than 3 m.

FOOD AISID FEEDING

Food included aquatic and terrestrial insects, vorms, and other small

invertebrates. Birds often turned over Nymphaea leaves with the bill,

sometimes lifting the entire leaf out of the water to do so, and then held

the leaf down with the feet vhile inspecting the underside for animal food.

Floating Pistia plants were shifted around with the bill and dead vegetation

was moved or turned over in a search for invertebrates. Birds often made

short rapid runs to pick up moving prey, and most food was taken while the

birds walked over floating plants or in the reedbeds. An important food

item at the dam was developing seedheads of Nymphaea, which were taken soon

after the petals had fallen. The stem was broken off in the bill just

below the seedhead, vhich was carried away to a quiet spot. The bird then

held the seedhead down with one food and tore off pieces, apparently to

reach the developing seeds. Birds climbed up to 2 m high in Typha beds,

presumably to feed, and they also occasionally fed while swimming, taking

invertebrate and plant material in a similar manner to Moorhens. I^Jhen

undisturbed, they occasionally walked in short grass on the shore searching

for insects in the manner of African Jacanas.

The gallinules fed alongside Moorhens, African Jacanas and Purple

Gallinules, but seldom came into close contact with Black Crakes. They were

aggressive towards Pygmy Geese Nettapus auritus (the only other species

feeding corrmonly on Nymphaea seedheads) ; once a Pygmy Goose was chased

until it dropped the seedhead which it was carrying; the gallinule then

seized the seedhead and carried it off.

1985

Allen's Gallinule

147

VOICE

Three types of call were heard. (1) A subdued 'kup' , the ooinmonest call of

adults æid juveniles, apparently a contact note. (2) A variety of sharp

'klip', 'kleep' , 'kik' and 'kerr* notes, given by adults probably in an

alarm or aggressive œntext; also sharp dry 'kep' and 'kup' notes; all at

3-4 notes per sec. (3) A rapid high-pitched 'kli-kli-kli' at 6-8 notes per

sec, given in flight and apparently in alarm (probably the "short shrill

flight call" of Crairp & SiniTDns 1980) . In Zambia a half-grown chick gave

a fourth call v^en with an adult, a quiet 'tack' probably a contact note.

Calls (1) and (2) were heard infrequently throughout the year, but

calling increased markedly in Nov and Dec. In December many calls (2) and

some calls (3) were heard for much of the day.

DISCUSSION

These observations suggest that Allen's Gallinule prefers areas of permanent

fresh water witli much floating vegetation, especially Nywphaea vhich is an

inportant source of plant and animal food. Pistia and floating matted

grasses do not attract the species unless Nymphaea is also present.

Polygonum beds are not frequented. A good fringing cover of tall permanent

reedbeds such as Typha and Cyperus is essential. Waters with good fringing

cover hut little or no suitable floating vegetation attract these birds only

transiently.

They also occur on rivers and rice fields (Keith in press) and on

seasonal waters (Maclean 1984) . They are usually in extensive habitat hut

also occur (and in Zambia breed) on ponds as small as 0.5-2 ha.

Movements of Allen's Gallinules to and away from the dam cannot be

attributed directly to changing local conditions: habitat in Mar was

extensive and increasing, while Sept birds arrived when habitat was most

restricted (Table 1). Possibly they abandoned their breeding habitat

because it became even less suitable than was Bamhuri at that time. The

Bamburi wintering habitat appeared similar to breeding habitat in Zambia,

but the birds' departure suggests that it was not suitable for breeding -

possibly it could not provide enough food for the young. Although the dam

appeared to have rtuch food in the breeding season, the fact that nost of

the Moorhens and African Jacanas (not strongly migratory species) also left

at that time suggests that it could support only a very few breeding pairs

of rails and jacanas. There was apparently no other suitable habitat near

Mombasa) and Bamburi, with habitat artificially maintained by pipeline

water, is an isolated area such as these birds are prone bo colonise

opportunistically vhen dispersing from their breeding areas.

The breeding grounds of this population of Allen's Gallinule are not

knovm. Breeding occurs on Zanzibar and Pemba in May-Aug (Pakenham 1979) ,

but migration is not recorded in that area. The only breeding record from

coastal Tanzania is of nest-building at Soga (near Dar-es-Salaam) in

November (EANHS Nest Record Scheme) .

Of the cciTparison species, all except Purple Gallinule are resident

on Zanzibar and/or Pemba. Moorhens breed in June-Dee, African Jacanas in

May-Aug and Black Crake in Jan (Pakenham 1979) . Breeding of African Jacana

148

P. B. Taylor

MALBffiUS 7

is recorded at Bamburi in Feb, May and July (EANHS Nest Record scheine) but

nowhere else on the Kenya coast. My observations are the first breeding

records of Moorhen and Black Crake in coastal Kenya, but breeding at

Bamhuri has probably been overlooked previously.

A Bainburi record of a "70-80% grown" juvenile Allen's Gallinule in

Sept 1975 (EANHS Nest Record Scheme, Brown & Britton 1980) is of interest.

The bird was unaccorrpanied , so had probably been reared elsewhere and not

bred at Bamburi. Similarly a Sept immature near Lamu (north Kenya coast) ,

possibly "bred in the vicinity" (Jackson 1938) , cannot be taken as proof of

breeding there.

The estimated age of Bamburi juveniles at the start of moult is c. 5

months, similar to that for migratory populations of American Purple Gallinule

P. martinica (Ripley 1977, Cranp & Simmons 1980). Adults apparently moult

all remiges shortly after breeding (Cranp & Sinmons 1980) ; as no flightless

birds were seen at Bamburi, adults may have moulted before arrival.

Turning over Nymphaea leaf edges v^en feeding was described by Fry

(1966) , hut feeding on Nymphaea seedheads has not previously been described.

It was also frequently observed in Zambia. The lack of aggressive encounters

with Moorhens, African Jacanas and Purple Gallinules suggests that Allen's

Gallinule was not in conpetition with them for food at the dam. African

Jacanas fed largely on insects. Moorhens chiefly on plant material while

swinming, and Purple Gallinules mainly on roots, stems and leaves of the

larger emergent plants, especially Typha. Allen's Gallinules appeared to be

more catholic in their choice of food and in their feeding methods than were

the other species.

ACKNCmEDGEMENTS

I am grateful to C.A. Taylor for much help with fieldwork, to R.A.M. McVicker

for providing tape-recordings of the calls of Allen's Gallinule at Bamburi,

to R. Haller for supplying rainfall figures and allowing unlimited access to

the Nguuni Property, and to I.. A. Bennun and C.H. Fry for comments on a draft

of this paper.

SUMMARY

Field observations were made of a nonbreeding migratory population of Allen's

Gallinule Porphyrio alien! at Bamburi, Mombasa, Kenya, throughout 1981.

Habitat requirements, migrations, behaviour, food, voice, moult and breeding

are described, population density is given and some ccmparison made with four

other water bird species sharing the habitat. The migrations and breeding

areas of rallids in coastal East Africa are discussed.

REFERENCES

BRITTON, P.L. (ed.) (1980) Birds of East Africa. Nairobi: E. Afr. Nat.

Hist. Soc.

BROl-tl, L.H. & BRITTCN, P.L. (1980) The Breeding Seasons of East African

Birds. Nairobi: E. Afr. Nat. Hist. Soc.

1985

Allen's Gallinule

149

CPAMP, S. & SIMMONS, K.E.L. (eds.) (1980) The Birds of the Western

Palearctic. Vol. 2. Oxford: Oxford University Press

EANHS (1978) East African bird report 1977. Scopus 1: 116-131

EANHS (1980) East African bird report 1979. Scopus 3: 107-120

FRY, C.H, (1966) Cfri the feedinq of Allen's Gallinule, Bull. Niger. Orn.

Soc. 3(12) : 97

JACKSON, F.J. (1938) The Birds of Kenya Colony and the Uganda

Protectorate. Vol. 1. London: Gurney & Jackson

KEITH, G.S. (in press) Porphyrio alien! Allen's Gallinule in The birds of

Africa. Vol, 2. Eds. E.K. Urban, C.H. Fry & G.S. Keith. London:

Academic Press.

MACLEAN, G.L. (1984) Roberts Birds of Southern Africa. Cape Town:

John Voelcker Bird Book Fund.

PAKENHAM, R.H.W. (1979) The Birds of Zanzibar and Pemba. B.O.U. Check-

list No. 2. London: B.O.U.

RIPLEY, S.D. (1977) Rails of the world. Boston: Godine

TAYLOR, P.B. (1979) Palearctic and intra-African migrant birds in Zambia:

a report for the period May 1971 to December 1976. Occ. Paper Zamb.

Orn, Soc. 1: 1-169

TAYLOR, P.B. (1985) Field studies of the African Crake Crex egregia in

Zambia and Kenya. Ostrich 56: 170-185

P.B. Taylor, P.O. Box 25138, Nairobi, Kenya

150

PEVIEIVS

MALIMBUS 7

PPOCEEDINGS of the FIFTH PAN AFRICAN OFNITHOLOGICAL CONGRESS (held at Lilongwe,

Malam in 1980) edited by John Ledger, December 1984, Southern African

Ornithological Society, Johannesburg. Pp. 885. £25.00. ISBN 0 620 05057 8.

The proceedings of the 5th Congress appeared 4^ years later, just before the

6th Congress (Francistown, Botswana, March 1985) . The Editor is apologetic

for the delay, proclaiming that vhen he undertook the task "without realising

how much work would be involved" he had hoped for a much earlier result. But

anyone with a similar task wDuld sympathise, perhaps congratulate, on the

conparatively speedy appearance of a finished volume, which is rather more than

just a collection of papers presented at Congress. Speakers are notorious for

proTptly disappearing after a meeting into the most remote bush, to pursue

their studies yet further!

Appropriately the Proceedings starts with a tribute to the late Leslie

Brown, whose sad death at his home in Nairobi on 6th August 1980 occurred only

three weeks before the. Congress. The Chairman, the late Con Benson, in his

speech of thanks at the closing of Oonoress, mentioned v^t a great organisa-

tional debt was oved to Leslie Brown, v^o helped to finalize the scientific

program. lÆslie Brown's untimely death meant that his important paper

"Systematic problems in African Falconif ormes" was edited and presented by

R.K. Brooke.

In addition to the customary List of Delegates the preliminary sections

contains a most interesting account of the history of the Congress since its

inception in 1957, together with a general review of the meeting by Gérard

Morel, the whole enlivened by informal photographs. Morel had had the

privilege of attending all P.A.O. congresses, which reminds me of that first

Congress in Livingstone, where I met not only Morel tut many great earlier

African ornithologists, including the late Reg Moreau and Con Benson. It

is particularly gratifying to read that Mr and Mrs Mackie Niven were at

Lilongwe, since it was so largely their initiative that had made the

Livingstone oonoress possible. It is interesting to read that Professor and

Dr Collias, who presented a paper on breeding of "Black-backed Weavers" in

1957, are still studying weaver biology; but they now use the West African

name "Village Weaver" for this widespread species, a change wiiich Malimhus

readers will approve I

It is impossible in a short space to review the 57 papers presented to

Congress, and it would be invidious to select any for special mention. They

are grouped into 7 sections, viz.: Systematics (4 papers); Population

Studies (6); Ecology (18); Conservation (8); Behaviour (4); Breeding

Biology (10); and Mscellaneous (7). These numbers give some indication of

the major fields of interest in Africa today.

It is surprising how fashions change in ornithological research. At

the 1957 Congress major topics were migration and vocal communication, perhaps

not surprising with Reg Moreau and Miles North present. But at the Malawi

Congress there was only one paper on migration, dealing wâth timing of south-

ward movement of Palaearctic migrants in Kenya, and only two on voice (both

illustrated with sonograms) , on duetting in barbets and food begging calls

of a weaver species.

The published papers are of high standard and serious students of

T^rican Ornithology wh.ll find them essential reading and a welcome addition

to their personal reference shelf. At £25 this must be regarded as good

value for a no-nonsense but clearly presented volume in which almost all

1985

REVin^S

151

papers carry clear diagrams or tables or appendices of basic data from viiich

the conclusions have been drawn. The few photographic illustrations are of

moderate quality. We are promised that the Proceedinas of the 1985 Botswana

PAOC will be published in 1986; let us hope that that deadline is kept.

J. H. Elgood

This volume can be obtained from: Mrs, J. Wolhuter , Southern African

Ornithological Society, P.O. Box 87234, Houghton, Johannesburg , South Africa

2041.

POBERTS' BIRDS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA by Gordon L. Maclean, 5th Edition March

1985, John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town, pp. li + 848 + 76 colour

plates. No jacket price (about £25). ISBN 0 620 07681 X.

It must be

said at the outset that this is a really splendid book that all interested

in Mrican ornithology will want to possess. Fran the first appearance of

"Roberts" in 1940 it has been the standard work for the area south of the

Cunene, Okavango and Zambezi Rivers, a marvel of cortpression into a single

volume, yet small enough to be used in the field (many oontenporary works

for other areas of Africa being multi-volume series of large-format books) .

It is the second major metamorphosis that Roberts Birds of South Africa has

undergone, each with new authorship, and this time the revisions have been

major in almost every aspect (including the title change from South to

Southern Africa) .

The twD most important changes are the text oorrpletely rewritten by

Gordon Maclean, and the replacement of the 56 original plates of Norman

Lighton by 76 modem style and much iirproved plates by Kenneth Newman and

Geoff Lockwood (a replacement started in the 4th Edition) . All tut vagrant

species have a coloured distribution map that shows sedentary or migratory

status at a glance; but one could wish the maps indicated northward range

extension towards or beyond the Equator (and surely the European Bee-eater

map should distinguish Palaearctic migrants from South African

breeding birds) . Almost all species accounts include a sonogram, with a

welcome verbal interpretation such as 'wip. . .wip. . .weeu' for the Red-chested

Cuckoo; some species have twD or more sonograms but it is a pity that, in

the interest of spatial economy, many of the verbal interpretations can only

be read with a lens.

Several additional species of birds are included, viiich has made it

timely to revise the Roberts numbers (a decision that was "not undertaken

lightly") . A major inprovement is the introduction of some dichotomous

keys, with an occasional comparative table for such difficult groups as

Cisticolas and small waders. It is not clear vÆiat criteria have been used

to decide viiether to use a dichotomous key; extreme examples being a 6-page

key for raptors and another (though not called a key) to separate Malachite

and Pygmy Kingfishers, there being no key for Alcedinidae. The introduction

includes coloured vegetation and rainfall maps which are on a larger scale

than the species distritutional maps, making it difficult to relate species

and environments. A welcome feature is that, in addition to the useful

general reference list, there are literature references for most groups and

even for some species. Vernacular names have been revised; and bird names

in 12 languages are listed in indexes. A minor change is that weights and

measures are now in metric units.

152

REVimS

MALBffiUS 7

'*R)berts" has always been an invaluable mine of information, tut

Maclean's Edition is undoubtedly greatly inproved all round; it will not

only be a must for all ornithologists in Southern Africa but also has much

to conroend it to observers in West Africa* The illustrations alone make it

very much vorth v^ile, since so many non-passerine species, and not a few

passerines, occur in both areas; the coloured flight figures of predators

and waders are especially useful, although the variable scale is confusing

with, for exanple, Ringed Plover looking as large as Greoishank. Worth

special mention are flight illustrations of Golumbidae, most of yàiich occur

in West Africa, and a nightjar plate showing spread wings and tails of both

sexes of the seven species (all of ^ich also occur in West Africa) . A few

of the plates are rather overcrowded, and users outside Southern Africa would

have preferred plates labelled with scientific rather than English narres,

since so many of the latter differ regionally. Placing most of the

'additional* species in tiie last tM3 plates has made them into very mixed

grills, with petrels and passerines figured together. Incidentally, the

most recent 'additions.' have a 'number' ^idi is quite out of sequence with

those of their near relatives; pipits run frcm 716 to 726 wiüi two new-

ccmers, Mountain and Red-throated Pipits nimbered 901 and 903 respectively.

It \»oald be quite inappropriate in a brief review to atterrpt to trace

the changes in such a successful standard of work over its history of 45

years with 5 major Editions, and many anencirients at most reprintings, hat

the reviewer has before him an original Austin Roberts (5th iirpression 1946)

with 463 pages; a McLachlan & Liversidge, 3rd Edition (1st iirpression 1970)

with 642 pages and the new Maclean 5th Edition of 1984 with 848 pages. They

form a most interesting cOTparison, increasing size being but a measurable

aspect of steady iirproveirent in content and usefulness.

The Maclean 'Roberts' is a veritable ccnpendium of Information,

apparently free from those blenishes that seem to occur in rrost modem works.

J, H, Elgooi

O^^SERVATICN OF TROPICAL FOREST BIRDS, edited by A.W. DiaiTOnd and T.E. Love joy,

1985, Int. Council for Bird Preservation, Cambridge, UK. Pp xiv + 318. £18.50

incl. p. & p. ISBN 0 946888 05 1. Letterpress-printed, but otherwise having

much the same format and feel as the laraer Proceedings of the Fifth PAOC (see

akove) being illustrated with maps, graphs and tables, this valuable volume is

a collection of papers presented at a workshop and symposium held at the 18th

I-forld Conference of the ICBP at Cambridge in August 1982. Althouah the

illustrations are not always of very high standard, nearly all of the papers

iTDst certainly are. The 21 contrihjtions are arranged in four parts: Global

Perspectives, the Neotropics, the Paleotropics , and Workshop Proceedings. All

of the papers are by internationally well-known ornithologists and, more

importantly, there are few if any obvious amissions among the ejperts vÆio have

contributed. The five papers on African birds are by J.M. Thiollay (on West

Africa) , S.N. Stuart (East Africa) , R.J. Itowsett (Central and Southern Africa) ,

A.W. Diamond (threats and sites) and A. Prigogine (Albertine Rift forests -

this paper is in the Workshop part and not the Paleotropics part is not

apparent) . In addition A, Feast's and A.W. Diamond's papers in the Global

Perspectives part refer extensively to the African picture.

Thiollay' s reference list contains not a single Malimbus citation, ^ich

does not reflect too creditably on this journal. I should have liked him to

give an even more detailed discussion of Threats (habitat destruction, loaqing,

1985

REVIEWS

153

cultivation, plantation, roads, pesticides, shooting, trade) perhaps at the

expense of a 5h page table vAiich could have been compressed. But his devas-

tating conclusions may be allov^ed to speak for themselves: "less than 3% of

the original forest area (remain as primary forest) 77 island or montane

endemics are already vulnerable and will be endangered in the near future —

13 species of lowland rainforest birds have now very small populations within

restricted ranges the situation is very serious . . . hunting must be

drastically controlled conservation strategy has to focus on the

preservation of the few remaining virgin patches".

C.H. Fry

THREATENED BIRDS OF AFRICA AND RELATED ISLANDS, The ICBP/IUCN Red Data Book,

Part 1, 3rd ed. by N.J. Collar and S.N. Stuart with 12 colour plates by

Norman Arlott, 1985, Int. Council for Bird Preservation, Cambridge, UK.

Pp xxxiv + 761. £24.00. ISBN 2 88032 604 4. A scholarly, up-to-the-

minute, invaluable compilation of biological facts pertaining to nearly 200

species (many of them Madagascan or insular and not strictly African) .

The text is terse and compressed, but easily readable and mercifully free of

telegraphese, for each species with a brief summary followed by extended

sections on Distribution, Population, Ecology, Threats, Conservation measures

taken. Conservation measured proposed. Remarks, and References. A measure

of the research which has gone into the preparation of this compendium is

that many species each have in excess of 20 references, mainly to recent

studies. If, in a hundred years' time, the handsome colour plates shall be

the monument to what is, rather than to v\^at was, this book shall have

served its admirable purpose.

C.H. Fry

FIELD GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA, by Ian Sinclair, 1984, Collins,

London. Pp 361. £9.95. ISBN 0 00 219131 8. Photographs are a valuable aid

to identification, although a field guide relying primarily of photos as

this one does has distinct limitations. All illustrations are in colour,

with one illustration per species; over 900 birds are shown, the large

majority by good, clear photos well-printed with true colours. A few

photos of scarce species are merely bad snaps, and some rare birds for

v^ich no photos are available are portrayed by paintings. Photos are

arranged usually in sixes, on a plate opposite a page with thumb-nail

southem-African distribution maps and a 5-10 line text for each species.

The hook composes a nice entree for newcomers to Southern African, if not

subsaharan, birds, and is also worth possessing by more experienced

ornithologists since so many of the species are so rarely portrayed photo-

graphically.

C.H. Fry

SOUTH AFRICAN RED DATA BOOK - BIRDS, by R.K. Brooke, December 1984, South

African National Scientific Prograimnes Report No. 97, csir, Pretoria.

Pp vii + 213. No proce given. ISBN 0 7988 3264 9. Paper, A4 format.

Illustrated by point-plotted South African distribution maps only. About

1000 references.

154

NOTIŒS

MALIMBUS 7

L'AIGLE DE BCNETJLI ET LE VAinOUR PERCNOPTERE

L'Aigle de Bonelli, Hieraaetus fasciatus , et le Vautour Percnoptère,

Neophron percnopzerus , sont en voie de disparition dans le M-idi méditerranéen

français. Parmi les dangers qui les menacent, ficrurent les dérangements par

les ncmbreujx ornithologues et photographes qui approchent certaines aires.

Nous demandons à tous de s'abstenir de telles visites ou de prendre

contact au préalable avec les organismes ci-dessous, chargés de la surveil-

lance de ces aires.

A tous, merci de nous aider à sauver ces oiseaux.

BQNELLI'S EAGLE AND EGYPTIAN VULTURE

Bonelli's Eagle, -i/ieraaetus fasciatus, and the Egyptian Vulture,

Neophron percnopterus , are two seriously threatened species in the French

Mediterranean region. Amongst the dangers they have to face are distur-

bances by bird watchers and photographers who get too close to certain

nest sites.

We are therefore asking everybody to refrain from such visits or to

contact the oruanisations responsible for wardening the nest sites before-

hand.

Thank you for helping us save these birds.

Fonds d'intervention pour les Rapaces

B. P. 27

92250 La Garenne-Colombes , France

BURKINA FASO (ex UPPER VOLTA)

Yves Thonnerieux souhaite rassembler les observations d'oiseaux réalisées

au Burkina Faso (ex Haute-Volta) afin de rédiger une synthèse ornithologique

pour ce pays d'Afrique occidentale. Les noms des correspondants seront

clairement mentionnés dans le texte final publié.

Yves Thonnerieux is collating information on the birds of Burkina Faso

(formerly Upper Volta) and welcomes any ornithological observations from

that country. Contributors will be acknowledged in any resulting

publication .

I-Trite to / écrire à : Yves Thonnerieux, Centre Ornithologique Phone-Alpes,

Biologie Animale et Zoologie, Université Lyon I, 43 bd. du 11 novembre 1918,

69622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France.

1985

NOTICES

155

^■lATERFOÆ CENSUS 1986

The Duck Research Group of the International Waterfov/l Research Bureau

(r-IRB) has for many years organized midwinter censuses of ducks in January

throughout the western Palearctic. The counts are normally made on the

middle Sunday in January, or a week on either side. For 1985 the dates

^re 5-20 January; for 1986, the dates will be 4-19 January. Aerial counts

were made in January 1985 in Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Upper Volta and

Chad; any further counts (aerial or ground counts) which readers of

Malimbus can contribute for last January, particularly from northern Ghana,

Nigeria and Cameroun would be very welcome. Any offers of help for January

1986 would be gratefully received by IIVRB, Slimbridge, Glos GL2 7BX, lïï<.

ITVRB's ^'Jader Research Group also organizes midwinter counts of waders

(shorebirds) . The Banc d'Arguin and the Bijagos Thrchipelago in Guinea-

Bassau are now well known to be of international importance, not only for

Afrotropical species, but also for hundreds of thousands of migrating and

wintering Palearctic waders. Beyond the Bijagos Archipelago however, no

itejor sites are known ‘until Walvis Bay and Sandwich Harbour in Nimibia.

It seems likely that major stcpover and wintering sites must exist somewhere

along the vast stretch of coast in between - in Sierra Leone, or the coastal

lagoons of Ivory Coast, or in the deltas of the Niger or Congo, or in Angola?

HVRB would welcome views and data on this problem.

Le Groupe de recherches sur les canards du Bureau international de

recherches sur les oiseaux d'eau (BIROE) organise en janvier depuis de

nombreuses années un recensement hivernal de canards dans toute la partie

occidentale de la région paléarctique . Le recensement a lieu normalement le

diimanche central de janvier, ou pendant la semaine avant ou après ce

dimanche. C'est ainsi que les dates en 1985 furent du 5 au 20 janvier; en

1986 les dates retenues sont du 4 au 19 janvier. En janvier 1985, des

recenserments aériens ont eu lieu au Sénégal, en Mauritanie, au Mali, en

Haute Volta et au Chad. Le Biroe (Sliimbridge , Glos GL2 7BX, Angleterre)

serait très heureux de recevoir tout renseignement supplémentaire (aérien

ou terrestre 1) que les lecteurs de 'Malimb.is' on pu récolter, notamment des

données sur le nord du Ghana, le Nigéria et le Cameroun.

Le Groupe de recherches sur les limdcoles du BIROE organise également des

recensements hivernaux de limicoles. On sait que le Banc d'Arguin et

l'archipel des Bijagos en Guinée-Bissau sont d'importance internationale,

non seulement pour les espèces af rotropicales , mais aussi pour des

certaines de milliers de limicoles paléarctiques pendant les périodes de

migration et d'hivernage. Au-delà de l'archipel des Bijagos cependant on

ne cornait aucun point de concentration important pour ces limicoles jusqu'à

Walvis Bay et Sandwich Harbour en Namibie. Il parait probable que d'importants

lieux de concentration pour des limicoles hivernants ou en mioration doivent

exister quelque part sur la vaste étendue de côte entre ces deux endroits:

au Sierra lÆone, dans les lagunes côtierès de la Côte d'ivoire, dans les

deltas du Niger et du Congo, ou en Angola? Encore une fois, le BIROE serait

heureux de recevoir des informations et points de vue à ce sujet.

156

NOTICES

MALIM3US 7

ICBP CONSERVATION EXPEDITION COMPETITION

The International Council for Bird Preservation is an organisation con-

cerned about the conservation, management and wise utilisation of wild

birds and their habitats worldwide. In 1985/1986, ICBP will again be

running a Conservation Expedition Conpetition to encourage more expeditions

to carry out conservation based ornithological research abroad and to gain

experience of international conservation issues and cooperation.

The competition is open to university or other ornithological teams

and ICBP will contribute up to ^1000 to each of the best two proposals and

may provide letters of endorsement and management support to the runners-up.

Projects will be judged on their conservation content, feasibility and

likely irrpact; they must involve a local counterpart and have clearance

from the host government and/or a local institute.

In 1985, awards v^^ent to Chris RaxwDrthy and a University of London

team to carry out the first ornithological survey of Zahamena Forest in

Madagascar, and to EXmcan Peavey and an Oxford team to make a sbudy of

Mount Oku in Cameroon. An ICBP expedition to Mt Oku in 1984 identified it

as one of the richest and most threatened centres of genetic diversity in

Africa. ICBP hopes that the Oxford team will draw attention to the rapid

clearance of Mt Oku by cultivation and over-grazing before it is too late

for birds like Bannerman's Turaco Tauraco bannermani and the Banded Wattle-

eye Platysteira laticincta. The endangered bird life of both areas has

been highlighted by the recent publication of Threatened Birds of Africa

and related Islands, the ICBP/IUCN Red Data Book (1985).

To enter the competition a project proposal must be submitted to the

ICBP Secretariat not later than January 31 and prizes will be announced at

the end of March. Full details and entry forms are provided in a guide

to the competition which costs £3 and can be obtained from ICBP, 219c

Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CR3 ODL, UK.

CORRECTION

THE BIRDS OF MAURITANIA, John P. Gee, Malimbus 6, 1984, p 49: For Black-

headed Gull L. audouinii read L. ridibundus . Insert the following (for the

omission of \diich the Editor apologizes) ;

JFMAMJJASOND

XXX X 1 ad. Cap Timiris 22/11/73. 1-3

iirim . and sub-ads . at pond 1 5 km

s of Nkt 6 June to early Aua

1974.

Audouin's Gull M

L. audouinii

NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS

Malimhus publishes papers, short notes, reviews, letters and illustrative

material. Contributions should be typed on one side of the paper with double

spacing and wide margins. Wherever possible papers first should have been

submitted to at least one ornithologist or biologist for critical scrutiny.

Textual matter will be retyped for offset printing, but FIGURES should be

prepared as for final reproduction, allowing for 20 percent reduction, using

Indian ink on good quality white paper, and Letraset and Letratone lettering

and shading (or equivalent) as appropriate.

CONVENTIONS regarding tabular material, dates, numbers, metric values,

references etc. should be carefully adhered to and can be sought in this and

recent issues. Articles containing lengthy SPECIES-LISTS should be of

tabular format (eg Malimbus 1: 22-28 or 1: 49-54) or of the textual format

of Malimbus 1: 36-42 for short texts per species or Malimbus 1: 90-109 for

longer texts.

OFFPRINTS 20 offprints of Papers (but not of Notes) will be sent to a

single author, gratis, upon request. 10 additional offprints will be issued

in respect of a second and of a third author of a paper, but they will be

photocopies. Offprints will not be stapled, bound or covered; they are

merely cut from copies of the journal.

BANNERI4AN 1930-51 or 1953 : Bannerman, D.A. (1930-51) The Birds of West

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

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

London

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Longmans, London

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

Birds of West Africa. Collins, London

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

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

VJHITE 1960-55 : White, C.M.N. (1960) A check list of the Ethiopian

Muscicapidae (Sylviinae) Part I Occasional papers of the National

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

birds. Lusaka : Gov. Printer.

MALIMBUS 7 (2) October 1985

CONTENTS

A New Subspecies of the Rufous Swamp Warbler Acrocephalus rufescens from

Senegal. P.R. Colston and G.J. Morel 61 -

Birds in Falgore Game Reserve, Nigeria. R. Wilkinson and R. Beecroft 63 -

Bird Records from the Republic of Niger. R.A. Cheke , J.F. Walsh and

J.D.C. Fishpool 73- 9

Sédentarisation de Monticola solitarius au Cap de Naze, Sénégal. C. Rouchouse 91 -

Preuss's Cliff Swallow Hirundo preusii Breeding in Sierra Leone. Alan Tye 95 -

Progressive Improvement in Foraging Efficiency of Juvenile European Bee-eaters

Merops apiaster in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

W.C. Marais and B. Every 97 -

Birds of Outamba Area, Northwest Sierra Leone. Ruth E. Heppel 101 -

The Species of Parasitic Finches in West Africa. R.B. Payne 103 -

Découverte d'un Nouvel Aigle Forestier au Sénégal l'Aigle d' Ayres Hieraaetus

dubius . A. R. Dupuy 114

Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis Inland in Ivory Coast and Nigeria. S.D. Ecoles 114

Les Oiseaux des Milieux Rocheux au Sénégal. G.J. Morel 115 -

Parasites and Diseases of Abdim's Stork Ciconia abdimii» A. U. Ezealor 120

Some Changes in the Bird Fauna of Lagos, Nigeria. P.D. Alexander-Marrack,

M.J. Aaronson, R. Farmer, W.H. Houston and T.R. Mills 121 -

Some Egyptian Plover Nests in Senegal. M.W. Richards and J. Boswall 128

Plain Nightjar at Sea off Ivory Coast. C.H. Fry 129

Song and Courtship of the Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea. W.A. Sontag jr. 129 -

Large-scale Movements of Common Pratincole Glareola pratincola at Juba.

F.R. Lambert 136

A New Northern Carmine Bee-eater Colony. J. Boswall and M.W. Richards 136

Notes Complémentaires sur I'Avifaune des Parcs Nationaux de I'Arli (Burkina)

et de la Pendjari (Benin). Yves Thonnerieux 137 -

Reichenbach ' s Sunbird Nectar inia reichenbachii New to. Ivory Coast. S.D. Eccles 140

Oriole babbler Hgpergerus atriceps near Coast of Ivory Coast. S.D. Eccles 140

Ringing in Nigeria 1984. R.E. Sharland 140

Observations of Allen's Gallinule Porphyria alleni at Mombasa, Kenya. P.B. Taylor 141 -

Reviews 150 -

Notices 154 -

MALIMBÜS

Journal of the West African Ornithological Society

VOLUME 8 1986

Number ]

May

WEST AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

SOCIÉTÉ D’ORNITHOLOGIE DE L’OUEST AFRICAIN

i

Conseil 1982-1985 ^

Président Professeiir Brian J. Harris

Vice-Président Dr Gérard J. Morel ■.

Secrétaire Professeur John H. Elgood

Trésorier Mr Robert E. Sharland

Éditeur, Malimbus Dr C. Hilary Fry .2’

La correspondance doit être adressée comme suit :

- les manuscrits et les demandes des nximéros précédents à l'éditeur I

(Aberdeen University Department of Zoology, Tillydrone Avenue,

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

- les cotisations et toutes questions financières au trésorier .i:.

(Fiat 7, Elmsdown Court, Southampton Road, Ringwood, Hants BH24 IJE, UK) C.

- les questions d'intérêt général au Président (Department of

Biological Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria) ^

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

B. P, 20, Sénégal) .j;';.

- les autres questions au Secrétaire général (26 Walkford Way, 'X

Highcliffe, Dorset BH2 3 5LR, U. K.)

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

fondée en 1964. Son but est de promouvoir l'intérêt scientifique

pour les oisea\ax de l' Ouest-africain et de faire avancer l'ornitho-

logie de ces régions principalement au moyen de son journal Malimbus

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

Les demandes d'adhésion seront les bienvenues. Les cotisations

annuelles ♦ sont de 6£ pour les membres ordinaires, et de 152 pour

les Sociétés. Les membres reçoivent gratiaitement Malimbus .

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

(1978) du "Bulletin de la Nigerian Ornithological Society" (même ^

format que Malimbus) sont disponibles à raison de 6 livres anglaises ^0

par volume. La plupart des numéros plus anciens sont encore dis-' 2'

ponibles. Prix à la demande.

* les cotisations doivent être payées en livres sterling ou en francs

français pour leur encaissement au Royaume-Uni ou en livres ^

nigérianes pour leur encaissement au Nigeria.

AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY PRESS : La Société est très reconnaissante de ’ j:']

la subvention d' Ahmadu Bello University Press, Nigèria à qui V

appartient le copyright de Mal imbus .

ISSN : 0331 - 3689 Emblem design by Philip Blasdale

1986

1

MALIMBÜS 8 (1) 1986

CHANGE IN MANAGING EDITORSHIP

Ma 1 imbu s , and before its inception the Nigerian Ornithologists* Society

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

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

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

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

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

iate effect the new editorial address is;

Dr H.Q.P. Crick

Tropical Development Research Institute

College House

Wrights Lane

London W8 5SJ , UK.

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

since Dr Crick retains a Research Fellowship at the Zoology Department

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

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

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

UK.

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

August 1986 it will be:

Dr C.H. Fry, Associate Professor,

Department of Biology

Sultan Qaboos University

PO Box 6281, Ruwi,

Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.

Bibliography of African Ornithology 1985

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

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

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

Malimbus mailing envelopes.

2

MALIMBUS 8

THE BIRDS OF NINDAM FOREST RESERVE, KAGORO , NIGERIA

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

Received 16 January 1985

Revised 5 October 1985

INTRODUCTION

In the following account we use the vegetation classification of White

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

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

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

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

cal and climatological conditions (Jones 1963). Near Kagoro (09 '32 'N,

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

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

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

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

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

Shrike Flycatcher Megabyas flammulata and Collared Sunbird Anthreptes

collaris . We sensed that the Kagoro area, particularly Nindam, would

be interesting to investigate ornithologically , and this paper reports

our findings.

STUDY AREA AND METHODS

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

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

ral streams. The vegetation changes from rain forest to transitional

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

tious weeds and constitutes the major threat degrading Nindam Forest

Reserve .

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

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

such as Parinari kerstingii, Aubrevillea kerstingii, Blighia unijugata,

Canarium schweinfurthii , Ficus varifolia, Napoleona imperialis and

Myrianthus arboreus have been identified. Unlike the grass dominated

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

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

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

ferns .

1986

Nindam Forest Birds

3

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

inhabiting vertebrates which are north of their previously known geographi-

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

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

Mona Monkey Cercopithecus mona were occasionally observed or turned

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

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

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

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

aethiops , Rhinolophus darlingi and Hipposideros ionesi. The tiny forest

bat which inhabits weaver nests Kergul ia smithii was also found.

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

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

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

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

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

mean annual rainfall of 155^ nim , whereas Minna I80 km due west receives

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

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

MALIMBUS a

A

1400 mm (Jones 1963)- The higher reading at Kafanchan is due to orographic

rainfall from southwesterly winds blowing up the Niger Valley and meeting

the Plateau.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

appears in Appendix 2).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

we followed passed alternately through patches of rain forest and strips

of savanna.

Netted birds were weighed, ringed with numbered metal or plastic

rings, and measured (wing chord). We attempted to accumulate 120 net-

hours of work in the forest, and 10 h of trail-hiking for each two-

day visit.

RESULTS

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

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

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

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

tunistically and no systematic method was undertaken to quantify or

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

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

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

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

Other common species appear to have been overlooked completely, but

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

and Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus.

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

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

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

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

woodland and forest of a type intermediate between gallery and lowland

1986

Nindam Forest Birds

5

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

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

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

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

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

(Elgood 1982).

Figure 2 Hypothetical transect from Kagoro Hills (on left) to Sanga River

Reserve, showing main habitats likely to be encountered. Under

each habitat are species typical of those habitats.

6

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

MALIMBUS 8

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

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

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

new species are Yellow-throated Cuckoo Chrysococcyx f lavigularis , Bates'

Swift Apus batesi^ and the previously mentioned Purple-throated Cuckoo-

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

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

are Spotted Honeyguide Indicator maculatus , Capuchin Babbler Phyllanthus

atr ipennis and Little Grey Flycatcher Muscicapa epulata. Many records

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

Stiphrornis ery throthorax and Little Greenbuls Andropadus virens were

observed in comparatively small numbers in the forest undergrowth, yet

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

White-browed Forest-Flycatcher Fraseria ocreata , recorded only once,

was caught in a net.

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

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

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

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

can illustrate this concept more clearly by considering a hypothetical

transect through a much larger area to include all habitats between

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

(Fig. 2).

DISCUSSION

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

of rain forest birds encountered at Nindam. About ^<0 species are regarded

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

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

Capuchin Babbler and Honeyguide Bulbul Baeopogon indicator in a relatively

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

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

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

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

particular, cannot be overstated.

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

with comments on status and habits.

West African Goshawk Accipiter toussenelii A bird of forest growth;

sometimes netted as it attacked already netted birds.

Western Little Sparrowhawk Accipiter erythropus Recorded in March

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

at Yankari Game Reserve in the dry season.

Cuckoo Falcon Aviceda cuculoides The occurrence of Cuckoo Falcons

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

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

Nigeria .

1986

Nindam Forest Birds

7

Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus Several were recorded on passage

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

swarming termites near Kafanchan on 19 Apr 1980.

Scaly Francolin Francolinus squamatus Restricted to disturbed forest

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

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

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

Pigmy Spotted Rail Sarothrura pulchra The piping call of the Pigmy

Spotted Rail was a characteristic sound of Aframomum thickets in wet

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

Tambourine Dove Turtur tympanistra Found along with T. abyssinica

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

a recently-fledged juvenile (26 Oct 1980).

Giant Plantain-eater Corythaeola cristata Common resident of high

forest canopy, occasionally extending into gallery forest around the

base of Kagoro Hills.

Yellow-throated Cuckoo Chrysococcyx flavigularis Our observations

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

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

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

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

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

seasons and was probably resident.

Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx cupreus A typical forest cuckoo which

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

beginning of the rains', common at Kagoro during the rainy season.

Its status in the dry season at Kagoro is uncertain.

Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx mechowi Calls heard constantly

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

months, their status as residents is in little doubt.

Thick-billed Cuckoo Pachycoccyx audeberti These cuckoos were seen

regularly at Nindam. Given the thinly scattered records from gallery

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

locality was obtained by MD and MEG at I6OO m on the Obudu Plateau in

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

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

8

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

MALIMBUS 8

unexpected in Nigeria and may have been previously overlooked.

White-bellied Kingfisher Alcedo leucogaster Caught frequently during

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

blackish bill was netted on 4 Nov 1980.

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

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

northerly wintering location in Nigeria.

White-throated Bee-eater Merops albicollis Normally migrates from

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

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

northern most nonbreeding locality in Nigeria.

Blue-throated Roller Eurystomus gularis Regularly but rarely seen

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

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

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

over the forest.

Piping Hornbill Bycanistes fistulator Another forest hornbill seen

at Nindam as well as at the Boy Scout Camp.

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

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

Black-and-White-Casqued Hornbill Bycanistes subcylindricus This large

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

party was observed 27 Sep 1979.

Double-toothed Barbet Lybius bidentatus These were uncommon residents

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

Spotted Honeyguide Indicator maculatus This honeyguide was rarely

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

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

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

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

in riverine woodland by Hall (1977) near Serti.

Willcocks' Honey -guide Indicator willcocksi Although encountered

less frequently than I . maculatus , two were netted.

Prodotiscus sp. On 9 Sep 1979 a Prototiscus honeyguide was observed

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

tion of this genus at Nindam.

Green-backed Woodpecker Campethera cailliautii A common species of

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

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

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

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

tory in West Africa.

1986

Nindam Forest Birds

9

Purple-throated Cuckoo-Shrike Campephaga quiscalina Our observations

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

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

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

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

the appearance of the female which is bright yellow beneath.

Slender-billed Greenbul Andropadus gracilirostris A canopy species

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

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

at this northerly latitude.

Little Grey Greenbul Andropadus gracilis Found in the canopies of

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

is apparently never netted near the ground.

Little Greenbul Andropadus virens A common species of forest and

gallery forest at Kagoro. It was frequently netted.

Honeyguide Greenbul Baeopogon indicator A species of true forest,

uncommon at Kagoro.

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

frequently netted in the lower forest stratum in Nindam.

Nicator Nicator chloris Frequently heard among vines and tangles

at Kagoro but never netted.

White-throated Greenbul Phyllastrephus albigularis This bulbul might

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

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

85

80“

75-

70-

65-

22

T—

17.0

WEIGHT (g)

20.0

23.0

“T—

26.0

29.0

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

Greenbuls netted at Nindam.

10

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

MALIMBUS 8

Leaf -Love Pyrrhurus scandens A common bird of forest undergrowth

at Kagoro ; family parties were frequently netted.

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

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

Malaconotus sulfureopectus but we still cannot rule out the possibility

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

M. multicolor .

Red-capped Robin-Chat Cossypha natalensis Previously unrecorded in

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

patches of forest. 2H individuals were ringed in all, including several

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

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

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

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

Cameroon specimen from Yaoundé is thought to be extralimital .

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

visitor, arriving from drier savanna habitats to the north.

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

it is normally inconspicuous in the undergrowth.

Capuchin Babbler Phyllanthus atripennis The distribution of Capuchin

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

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

Puvel's Illadopsis Trichastoma puveli An uncommon resident of lowland

rain forest the Kagoro records represent a substantial range extension

to the north.

Brown Illadopsis Trichastoma fulvescens A bird of thickets in high

forest this species was infrequently netted. It is possibly disjunct

from populations occurring further to the south.

Green-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera chloronota This warbler was

common in the forest undergrowth, and frequently netted.

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

rarely caught (Appendix 2).

Whistling Cisticola Cisticola lateralis Permanent residents of the

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

White-browed Forest Flycatcher Fraseria cinerascens This flycatcher

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

1980. It is not known to be migratory.

Little Grey Flycatcher Muscicapa epulata A bird of tall trees and

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

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

assignable to any other Nigerian flycatcher was observed infrequently.

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

from a tree trunk). Probably overlooked.

1986

Nindam Forest Birds

1 1

Shrike Flycatcher Megabyas flammulata These were uncommon inhabitants

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

Collared Sunbird Anthreptes collaris An abundant bird of forest clear-

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

Olive Sunbird Nectarinia olivacea An abundant sunbird of the forest

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

other outlier forests such as Kainji (Elgood 1982).

Variable Sunbird Nectarinia venusta Considered to be a wet season

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

to disturbed habitats at Kagoro .

Buf f-throated Sunbird Nectarinia adelberti This species was recorded

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

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

nomads' which occasionally frequent more northerly latitudes in pursuit

of nectar.

Superb Sunbird Nectarinia superba A pair seen February I98O along

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

forest trees are flowering.

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

and was an uncommon resident of the undergrowth.

Splendid Glossy Starlings Lamprotornis splendidus These starlings

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

in the area.

Sudanian Woodland corresponds to Northern Guinea Savanna of Keay

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

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

of Guinea-Congolian rain forest, Isoberlinia woodland and secondary

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

Several forest birds extend into the Sudanian Woodland in gallery

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

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

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

Sudanian Woodland (see Fry 197^) but probably occupy a more continuous

woodland area in the Guinea-Congolia/Sudania regional transition zone

though information on their distribution here is lacking. Forest outliers

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

not suitable habitats for these species and such outliers are therefore

occupied by birds of essentially forest distribution. At Kagoro at

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

bulbuls (see Fig. ^ and accounts above).

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

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

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

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

12

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

MALIMBUS 8

.Andropadus graci 1 i rostr i s

Baeoppqon indicator

Pvcnonotus barbatus

Andronadus oraci li

tJicator chloris

E

«

I

n

Pyrrtiurus scandens

E

n

I

o

Andronadus virens

Bleda canicapilla

Pliy] l.istrenhus albigularis

Figure 4 Vertical zonation of forest pycnonotids at Nindam.

sedentary and represent disjunct populations. Their presence may indicate

that Kagoro is a refugium.

Evidence for African réfugia is scarce particularly in or adjacent

to the Congo Forest Block (Hamilton 1982). Hamilton (I982) concludes,

from the available information, that Africa experienced much greater

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

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

cal evidence suggests that forest cover in Africa began to increase

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

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

patches of forest sufficient to support viable populations of birds

must have existed throughout the driest times. Some forest patches

must exist which are sufficiently isolated that the species they contained

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

richness today are those which receive greater than average rainfall

within the forested zone. These areas correspond to former réfugia

during glacial periods (Hamilton 1982). Two conditions characteristic

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

rainfall (Hamilton 1982). The disjunct populations of birds are of

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

are more interesting because they do not indicate a northward adventive

re-popu" ation of forest patches on a seasonal basis. Purple-throated

1986

Nindam Forest Birds

13

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

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

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

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

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

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

not have historical significance but indicates to us that Kagoro still

possesses characteristics of true high forest.

CONSERVATION: A PLEA

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

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

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

regional transition zone would yield important information about how

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

conserving this richly diverse and scenically beautiful area.

SUMMARY

The birds and other organisms were studied at Kagoro from 1976 to 1981.

During this time about 40 species of sténotypie forest birds were documen-

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

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

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

Kagoro represents a refugium.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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

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

REFERENCES

ELGOOD, J.H. (1982) The Birds of Nigeria, B.O.U. Check-list No. 4.

British Ornithologist's Union, 246 pp .

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

Central State, Nigeria. Bull. Nigerian Orn . Soc . 11: 56-64.

U

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

MALIMBUS 8

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

.

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

79.

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

Press, London, 328 pp.

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

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

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

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

XX, UNESCO, 356 pp.

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

P . 0 . , Malawi

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

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

Ringwood , Hants. U.K.

Photo: R.E. Sharland.

1986

Nindam Forest Birds

15

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

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

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

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

status, PM = palaearctic migrant (either resident at Kagoro

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

african migrant.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

in savanna, jCH = rocky habitats on Kagoro Hills.

in

<

SPECIES JFMAMJJASOND ^

Recorded in Nindam Forest Reserve.

16

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

MALIMBUS 8

td

O

1986

Nindam Forest Birds

17

SPECIES

JFMAMJJASOND

CO

rs

H

<:

CO

u

2

<

Q

HABITAT

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

MALIMBUS 8

w

o

W <C <

2 Q E-i

1986

Nindam Forest Birds

19

SPECIES

JFMAMJJASOND

E-

<

OQ

<

Petronia dentata

Euplectes macrourus

Euplectes hordeaceus

Malimbus rubriceps

* Ploceus nigricollis

Quelea erythrops

Vidua macroura

Vidua funerea

* Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

* Laniprotornis splendidus

Onychognathus morio

* Oriolus auratus

* Dicrurus ludwigii

Corvus albus

Ptilostomus afer

X X X X

R VI?

U RE

R VI?

U RE?

R DV?

U RE

R VI?

1 S

2 S

1 S

2 F & SG

1 S

2 S

2 F

2 KH

1 F & S

1 F

1 S

2 S

Appendix 2

Species recorded at Sanga River and Girai River Forest Reserves

which were not recorded at Kagoro.

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

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

Scopus urabretta Pair roosting in tree, Girai River, 12 Jan 1980.

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

Francolinus bicalcaratus 6, Girai River, 12 Jan 1980.

Nuraida raeleagris 50+ , Girai River, 12 Jan 1980.

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

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

Vanellus albiceps 1, Girai River, 12 Jan 1980.

Vanellus senegallus 2, Girai River, 12 Jan 1980.

Vanellus superciliosus 3, Sanga River, 22 Dec 1979-

Tringa hypoleucos 1, Sanga River, 22 Dec 1979.

Tringa ochropus 3, Girai River, 12 Jan 1980.

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

Dicrurus adsirailis Single bird, Sanga River, 22 Dec 1979.

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

Nindara Forest Reserve.

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

3-9801167-3-5. 1985.

This volume deals with Ficudula hypoleuca, Motacilla alba, Bombycilla

garrulus , nine species of Ember iza , and P lec trophenax nivalis and Calcarius

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

the Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca, distinguished according to age

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

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

so few Saharan and subsaharan recoveries of Pied Flycatchers three small

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

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

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

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

do not occur in Africa at all, of course.

Cont. on p 22

1986

21

LA STERNE CASPIENNE STERNA CASPIA PALLAS A L'INTERIEUR

DU ZAÏRE

par P, Herroelen

Received 10 April 1986

Pendant mon séjour à Basankusu (19®i48'E, 01®14'N) dans la province de

l'Equateur une Sterne épuisée fut ramassée le 12 décembre 195^ par un

chauffeur zaïrois sur la route tout près de Basankusu et apportée à

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

Le lendemain l'oiseau mourut et me fut présenté par L. Peeters;

à l'époque j'avais déterminé ce spécimen comme Sterna maxima (Schouteden

1961) en me basant uniquement sur l'aileron mesuré erronément comme

370 mm.

Récemment à la lecture des résultats de baguage de la Sterne Caspienne

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

de la clé de détermination chez Chapin (1939) j'arrivais à la possibilité

que la Sterne de 195^ devrait être une Sterna caspia.

Cette supposition fut confirmée lars d'une vérification de la peau

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

réexaminé l'oiseau en question et nous l'avons également comparé avec

quelques Sterna maxima provenant de la côte atlantique zaïroise.

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

grammes (oiseau très maigre); estomac vide; iris brun fonçé; bec orange,

la pointe légèrement noire; tarse et doigts brun fonçé noirâtre; ongles

noirs. Male adulte, gonades en repos; voûte crânienne munie de deux

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

médianes 10(), rectrices externes 120, tarse 43.5, bec (mesuré à partir

du crâne) 76, largeur à la hauteur des narines 16 mm. Absence de mue

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

Une deuxième preuve de la présence de la Sterne Caspienne au Zaïre

fut apportée par la reprise d'un oiseau bagué en Suède. L/oiseau fut

tué au village Katampa Kap)ina, en région de Tshol'a (05 15'S, 25^13'E),

Kasai oriental le 11 décember 190I. Il s'agit d'un oiseau de première

année, bagué au nid le 1 juillet 1961 dans le Upfjland , Suède; distance

parcourue minimum 7 , 30O km S (Schouteden 1966; Glutz von Blotzheim

et Bauer 1982). La bague n'a pu être recuf)erée mais un des ailerons

est conservé au MRAC à Tervuren.

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

able. Plus d'une fois la Sterne Caspienne a été trouvée loin à l'intérieur

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

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

grands fleuves africains (divers auteurs dans Glutz von Blotzheim et

Bauer 1982).

22

P. Herroelen

MALIMBUS 8

La troisième preuve est la reprise d'un oiseau finlandais, citée

ici sans date et localité précises; cette trouvaille est mentionnée

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

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

et Bauer (1982) cet oiseau a été trouvé fin novembre "am Kongo/Zaire, 7000

km S " .

SUMMARY

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

in Dec 195^, Dec 1961, and a Finnish-ringed bird in Nov (year? - before

1963).

REFERENCES

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

Mus. Nat. Hist. 75-

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

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

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

des Sternes caspiennes d'Eurasie. Alauda 2k: 206-218, 26: 151.

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

in den Jahren 1913-1962. Orn . Fenn. 40: 81-124.

SCHOUTEDEN , H. (1961) La Faune ornithologique des Districts de la Tshuapa

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

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

Bot . Afr. , 73, 152-154.

P. Herroelen, Postbus 64, B-8400, Oostende, Belgium

REVIEW Cont. from p 20

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

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

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

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

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

enclosing card cover.

The four volumes comprise a work of great scholarship, showing

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

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

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

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

of non-passerine birds. „

1986

23

RECENT OBSERVATIONS OF BIRDS IN W NATIONAL PARK (NIGER)

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

Received 10 February 1986

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

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

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

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

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

senegalensis : HeliornitKidae ) brings a new faimily to the park's avifauna.

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

(Appendix II).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

be irrevocably destroyed.

B. Shull, M. Grettenberger and J. Newby

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

Errata

Cursorius temminckii: transpose to follow C. chalcopterus and add Nov

( Tapoa R . ) .

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

Plocepasser superc i 1 iosus : add Mekrou R. and Woodland.

B. Shull, M. Grettenburger & J. Newby

MALIMBUS 8

2A

APPENDIX II :

Pelecanus rufescens

Phalacrocorax africanus

Ardea purpurea

Arciea melanocephala

Egretta intermedia

Egretta garzetta

Ardeola ralloides

Ciconia episcopus

Ciconia abdimii

Leptoptilos crumeniferus

Threskiornis aethiopicus

Plectropterus gambensis

Neftapus auritus

Falco tinnunculus

Falco chiquera

Hieraaetus spilogaster

Aquila rapax

Aquila wahlbergi

Elanus riocourii

Elanus caeruleus

Polemaetus bellicosus

Butastur rufipennis

Circaetus gallicus

Circaetus cinereus

Melierax metabates

Terathopius ecaudatus

Polyboroides radiatus

Circus macrourus

Gallinula angulata

Balearica pavonica

Otis arabs

Eupodotis senegalensis

Burhinus senegalensis

Burhinus vermiculatus

Burhinus capensis

Vanellus spinosus

Vanellus tectus

Vanellus albiceps

Tringa ochropus

Tringa hypoleucos

Tringa glareola

Himantopus himantopus

Glareola cinerea

Larus cirrhocephalus

Sterna albifrons

Rhynchops flavirostris

Pterocles exustus

Streptopelia roseogrisea

Clamator levaillantii

Cuculus canorus

Centropus senegalensis

1986

25

REVISED LIST OF SOUND-RECORDED AFROTROPICAL BIRDS

by C. Chappuis

Received 10 January 1986

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

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

easily to locate acoustic references for the large majority of species

(about 1400 species out of £. 1900). Since then much new information,

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

new references embrace 1141 recordist-references and IO50 disc/cassette

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

ticularly concerning common species already dealt with by Chappuis 198O).

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

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

criteria :

Species not previously recorded: all references are cited.

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

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

(and holding institutions) are given.

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

(publications, institutions, recordists).

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

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

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

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

and (iii) Recordists, as follows:

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

Bristol BS8 2LR, UK

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

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

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

University, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA

FITZ: Fitzpatrick Bird Communications Library, Bird Department,

Transvaal Museum, PO Box 413, Pretoria 0001, South Africa

26

C. Chappuis

MALIMBUS 8

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

of list in Chappuis 1980)

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

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

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

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

France. Disc 1, one species.

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

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

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

12 species.

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

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

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

105 10 STOCKHOLM, Sweden

63 - PALMER, S. and BOSWALL, J. (1973) See no. 502 Malimbus 1980.

6A - HAYES, J. and ALLAN, J.O. See no. 503 Malimbus 1980.

65 - JELLIS, R. (1977) Bird Sounds and their Meaning. One 30 cm

1/3 rpm disc. BBC OP 224. British Broadcasting Corporation,

35 Marylebore High Street, London WIM 4AA. 2 species.

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

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

Co, Japon. 20 birds.

67 - MARSHALL, J.T. (1978) See no. 505 Malimbus 198O.

68 - CHAPPUIS, C. (1979) See no. 504 Malimbus 198O.

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

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

Road, Oxford OXZ 6UW. 27 species.

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

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

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

Sweden .

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

Caprimulgidae , Trogonidae , Coliidae, Capitonidae, Indicatoridae .

One 30 cm 33 1/3 rpm mono dise. ALA 23 and 24 with Alauda V 49,

No. 1. Société d'Etudes Ornithologiques, 46, rue d'Ulm, 75230

PARIS. 48 species.

72 - AUDIO THREE (I98I) Bird calls. Three cassettes. Vol. I, II,

III. 6 Larch Road, DURBAN, R.S.A. 4001. 217 species.

1986

Sound-Recorded Afro tropical Birds

27

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

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

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

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

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

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

Box 10123, ASHWOOD 3600 PINETOWN . About 420 species.

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

6 Larch Road, DURBAN 4001 R S A.

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

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

able from C. Chappuis, Lot. Per a Cheval, LA BOUILLE, 76530

Grant Couronne, Prance.

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

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

2122, JOHANNESBURG, S.A. 475 species.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Plus de 500 especes. Par rapport au No. 77: 34 nouvelles espèces,

78 espèces revues ou augmentées.

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

cassette. P.O. Box 11327, JOHANNESBURG 2000, S.A. I4l species.

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

cassette. P.O. Box 10123, ASHWOOD 3605, S.A. 177 species.

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

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

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

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

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

4 BBC Records, London. 3 species.

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

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

specie.5.

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

45 rpm mono. No. OCR 23. Office de coopération radiophonique,

PARIS. 3 species.

28

C. Chappuis

MALIMBUS 8

(iii) List of recordists with published discs/cassettes or with unpublished

recordings in institutions or private collections.

1986

Sound-Recorded Afrotropical Birds

29

DISCOGRAPHIES

The principal discographies of birds of the Afrotropical Region are:

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

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

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

sound from the Ethiopian zoogeographical region. Recorded Sound 7^/75,

73.

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

Ethiopian zoogeographical region. Ibis 109, 521-533.

Chappuis , C. (198O). List of sound recorded Ethiopian birds. Mai imbus 2,

1-15 and 81-98.

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

of mammals and birds in Southern Africa. Koedoe 15, 107-I25.

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

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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

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

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

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

updated my files and records.

30

C. Chappuis

MALIMBUS 8

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1986

Sound-Recorded Afrotropical Birds

31

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34

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MALIMBUS 8

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

MEROPS BULLOCKI

by H.Q.P. Crick

Received 29 January 1986

INTRODUCTION

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

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

they usually perform an excited trilling and greeting display (Fry 1973).

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

described by Fry (I98A) after my own unpublished observations (Crick

198A). Here I give a more detailed description of the display and of

the circumstances in which it occurs.

METHODS

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

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

Reserve, Bauchi State, Nigeria (10 30'E, 9 A5'N). Colonies of nesting

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

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

coloured plastic colours (Crick I98A).

THE DISPLAY

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

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

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

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

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

in the following extract from my note-books:

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

spread, heads raised at ^5^^, chin feathers puffed out, wings

slightly spread and vibrated, calling 'tew tew tewtewtewtewtew

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

few phonemes and falling slightly at the end."

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

version of the greeting call:

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

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

then usually calls 'tirr tirr tirr tirre tirre tirre' while

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

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

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

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

1986

Red-throated Bee-eater Display

A1

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

the sequence.

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DISPLAY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

and B are the occupiers of nest N-1):

"08.IA hrs: A and B landed at N-1, they called trills

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

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

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

N-1. A then flew up ... above the holes. O8.I6 hrs:

A jumped down to N-1 and called. B reappeared out of

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

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

then flew up above N-1 again."

DISCUSSION

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

dipitous discovery of this display.

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

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

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

incorporation of elements of the greeting display. Although elements

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

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

social situations.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This study was part of a Natural Environment Research Council studentship

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

Wilkinson and C.A. Galbraith.

k2

H.Q.P. Crick

MALIMBUS 8

REFERENCES

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

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

of Aberdeen.

CRICK, H.Q.P. L FRY, C.H. (I98O) Level-ground nesting by Merops bullocki.

Malimbus 2: 73-74.

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

75-112.

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

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

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

REVIEW

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

apart from practically all top-flight nature photographers in Africa

is the consummate skill with which he complements the pictorial record

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

recognition as an ornithologist, naturalist and scientist, rather than

as a wildlife photographer.

The photographs are simply magnificent studies of a dozen species

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cont. on p 45

1986

NOTES

A3

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

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

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

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

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

which raake the identification unquestionable. The only previous West

African record is of one speciraen from Vina River, Caraeroon (Monard, 1951,

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

and raapped by Snow, 1978, An Atlas of Spéciation in African Nonpasserine

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

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

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

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

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

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

question .

C.H. Fry

LITTLE EGRETS AND REEF HERONS HOVERING

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NOTES

MALIMBUS 8

AA

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

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

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

Hancock and Kushlan (I98A, The Herons Handbook]) state that the feeding tech-

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

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

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

hovering behaviour either,

Ron Demey

PNUD, 01 BP I7A7, Abidjan 01, Ivory Coast

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

of Ivory Coast ( Malimbus 7: 1-59) I have seen two new species, bringing to

685 the number of species of this country.

European Turtle-dove Streptopelia turtur

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

on 10 Feb I985 (observation made with Jan Van de Voorde).

Reichenbach ' 8 Sunbird Nectarinia reichenbachii

One near Dabou (coast) on 23 June I985 in shrubs bordering ricefields.

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

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

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

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

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

A sighting on 13 July I98O in Abidjan (in some palms on the golfcourse,

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

species .

Ron Demey

PNUD, 01 BP I7A7, Abidjan 01, Ivory Coast

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

Gongola State, Nigeria, near the Mambilla Plateau, at 06'’A5'N, ll'OO'E.

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

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

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

Donga River. On 18 Sept I985 I watched several species of forest birds

there, including a Spotted Honeyguide Indicator maculatus eating cater-

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

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

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

H.H. Gray

PO Box 30, Wukari, Gongola, Nigeria

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

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

been received (Schedule 1).

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

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

1986

NOTES

A5

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

of Kano and Bornu States.

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

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

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

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

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

Zoo until their flight feathers have grov/n ,' when they will be released.

The International Council for Bird Preservation and the Nigerian Conservation

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

Conservation is now being given a high priority.

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

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

2 .

Schedule 1

Night Heron Nycticorax nyctycorax Ringed 3/6/84, Slavonski Brod (Hrvatska)

Jugoslavia, 45®08' N, 18®01' E.

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

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

39'^50’ N, 07°11' E.

Schedule 2

Controls at Kagoro:

duration since ringed as adults^:

Olive Sunbird Cyanomitra olivacea

Bluebill Spermophaga haematina

White-browed Robin-Chat Cossypha polioptera

White-bellied Kingfisher Cory thornis leucogaster

Little Green Bulbul Andropadus virens

Grey-headed Bristle-Bill Bleda canicapilla

2 years

6

5

6

5

6

9 months

4 " 13 days

4 10 "

8 " 19 "

2; 24 "

5 " 10 "

(*for some comparable data see

Hanmer , 1985, Safring News 14:

51-60).

R.E. Sharland

REVIEW Cont. from p 42

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

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

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

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

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

monographic literature and making the better appreciation of them readily

available to all.

C.H. Fry

46

NOTICES

MALIMBUS 8

7TH PAN-AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL CONGRESS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ornithologists in it are solicited. For further information please

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

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

U.S.A.

Avian physiologist Prof. Geoffrey Maloiy of the University of Nairobi

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

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

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

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

Avian habitats are nowhere more threatened than in the Afrotropics.

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

great Pleistocene world faunas. Nairobi is an international city with

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

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

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

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

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

Nairobi. Take advantage of this unique opportunity.

RESEARCH PROJECT: THREATS TO THE WHITE STORK ON MIGRATION

The breeding populations of the White Stork Ciconia c iconia in Germany

and most other European countries have been declining heavily over the

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

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

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

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

Carrying out very long seasonal migrations between Europe and West,

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

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

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

caused by desertification, overgrazing and human activities (agricultural

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

To obtain more detailed ideas of the consequences which threats to

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

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

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

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

Holstein/West Germany, will be;

to analyse factors threatening the White Stork directly and indirectly

in the different countries on its migration route.

1986

NOTICES

A7

to analyse the extent of application of biocides and their direct

and indirect effects on migrating White Storks.

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

migrating White Stork.

to produce comprehensive documentation, containing results of the

project and suggestions for an international conservation strategy

for the White Stork.

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

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

and detailed investigations in all and migration and wintering countries.

A really comprehensive overview of the situation for the White Stork

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

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

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

and Africa. People interested in collaborating are therefore asked to

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

WWF-Germany/ICBP White Stork Project

Dr Holger Schulz

Am Lindenberg 1

D3331 LELM

Federal Republic of Germany.

RARE WADERS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

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

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

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

all records of these birds from this region up to and including I985.

Observers are requested to send full details (including photographs where

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

c/o The Computer Bureau, P.O. Box A2317 , Nairobi, Kenya. In particular,

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

Reprints or photocopies of papers and notes on already published records

are also welcome. All contributors will be acknowledged.

WORKING GROUP ON GRANIVOROUS BIRDS: INTECOL

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

granivores dans les écosystèmes". Il avait tout d'abord été prévu que

ce Symposium serait tenu lors du Congrès International d'Ecologie (Syracuse

USA) le 13 août 1986, mais à la demande de nombreux ornithologues une

session sera aussi organisée lors du Congrès international d ' Ornithologie ,

Ottawa, juin 1986. Les communications faites en ces 2 différents Congrès

seront réunis en un seul volume. Le Professeur Pinowski m'a par ailleurs

demandé de coordonner les travaux sur les oiseaux granivores en Afrique.

Si cette question vous intéresse, voulez-vous vous mettre en relation

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

d'avance de cette collaboration.

48

MALIMBUS 8

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

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

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

session will also be held during the International Ornithological Congress

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

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

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

to whom prospective participants should address their intentions and

any queries.

Marie-Yvonne MOREL

Steering Committee of Working Group on Granivorous Birds (Intecol)

WEST AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

SOCIETE D'ORNITHOLOGIE DE L'OUEST AFRICAIN

REVENUE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER I985

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31st DECEMBER I985

ASSETS

£1158 £1162

KEGOMMANDATIONS AUX AUTEURS

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

avec illustrations. Les manuscrits doivent être dactylographiés à double

interligne avec une large marge s\ir un seul côté de chaque page. Autant

que possible, les manuscrits . aiiront été auparavant soimis à un ornithologue

bu tm biologiste.

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

mais les figures doivent être préparées pour \me reproduction directe avec

possibilité d'une réduction de 20%. On se servira d'encre de Chine et d'xin

papier blanc de bonne qualité; on dessinera lettres et grisés avec des

"Letraset" ou "Letratone" (ou équivalent).

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

système métrique, les références devront être soigneusement suivies et

poxarront être recherchées dans ce numéro et dans les précédents. Les

articles contenant de longues listes d'espèces devront être du format d'un

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

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

1: 90 pour les textes plus longs.

REFERENCES A OMETTRE DANS LA BIBLIOGRAPHIE

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

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

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

London

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

,■ , C.H.B. (i957-73) African Handbook of Birds. Series I, Birds, of Eastern

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

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

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

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

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

Longmans, London

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

Birds of West Africa. Collins, London

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

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

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

Muscicapidae (Sylviinae) Part I Occasional papers of the National

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

list of African broadbills ... etc. Lusaka : (tovernment Printer;

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

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

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

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

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

, birds. Lusaka : Gov. Printer.

MALIMBÜS 8 (1) May 1986

CONTENTS

Change in Managing Editorship

The Birds of Nindam Forest. Reserve, Kagoro, Nigeria.

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

La Sterne Caspienne Sterna caspia Pallas à 1' Intérieur du Zaire.

P. Herrpelen

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

B. Shull, M. Grettenberger and J. Newby

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

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

Merops bullocki. H.Q.P. Crick

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

Little Egrets and Reef Herons Hovering. Ron Demey

Two New Species for Ivory Coast. Ron Demey

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

Ringing in Nigeria 1985. R.E. Sharland

Reviews

Notices

Accounts

MALIMBUS

Journal of thé West African Ornithological Society

VOLUME 8 1986

Number 2 December

WEST AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

SOCIÉTÉ D’ORNITHOLOGIE DE L’OUEST AFRICAIN

; ' ;

Council 1982-1985

President Professor Brian J. Harris

Vice-President Dr Gerard J. Morel

Hon. Secretary Professor John H. Elgood

Hon. Treasurer & Membership Secretary Mr Robert E. Sharland

Managing Edi tor , . Malimbiis Dr Humphrey Q.P. Crick

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

Dr Roger Wilkinson

Correspondecnce should be addressed as follows:

- to the Managing Editor (Tropical Development & Research

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

regarding contributions to Malimbus and purchase of back

numbers

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

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

subscriptions and financial matters

- to the President (Department of Biological Sciences, Ahmadu

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

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

policy matters

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

5 LR, U.K.) regarding all other matters

The Society grew out of the Nigerian Ornithologists' Society, which

was founded in 1964. Its object is to promote scientific interest

in the. birds of West Africa and to further the region's ornithology

mainly by means of the publication of its journal Malimbus

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

Applications for membership are welcomed. Annual membership

subscription rates are #6.00 for Ordinary Members and #15.00 for

Corporate Members (payments may be made in # sterling or FFr for

encashment in U.K. or in Nigerian N for encashment in Nigeria).

Members receive Malimbus free of charge.

BACK NUMBERS : Vols. 11-14 ( 1975-1978) of the Bulletin of the

Nigerian Ornithologists' Society (the same format as Malimbus)

and of Malimbus Vol. 1 (1979) onward (e.xcept Vol. 4 Part 1) are

available at #6.00 per volume (payments as above).

AHMADU. BELLO UNIVERSITY PRESS : The Society acknowledges with

ngratitude subsidy by the Ahmadu Bello University Press, Nigeria, to

whom copyright of Malimbus belongs.

"'k'

ISSN : 0331 - 3689

Emblem design by Philip Blasdale

D

1986

49

EDITORIAL

It is with some trepidation, mingled with excitement, that I

have taken over the editorship of Malimbus from Hilary Fry.

A tribute to Hilary's excellent and unstinting work as editor

follows and all I can say is that I hope I can fulfil the

expectations of the membership and build on the solid platform

laid by Hilary. In this task I shall be helped immensely by

the guidance of an editorial board consisting of Gerard Morel,

our vice-president, Roger Wilkinson and Bob Cheke, all of whom

will be familiar to you through their writings in Malimbus and

elsewhere. Each paper will be commented on by at least two of

us and may be sent to another referee when spcialist knowledge

is required.

This particular issue is the product of an editor learning the

ropes and finding new production facilities and as such, I

apologise for the lateness and relatively small size. However,

I have already enough papers in store to fuel further issues

including ones on such subjects as Hammerkops, Turtle Doves,

Acrocephalus warblers, the birds of Northern Air, reviews of

recent books, as well as nearly completed checklists of the

birds of Mauritania, Niger and Burkina Faso. Of course, as

Hilary Fry on occasion pointed out, the success of Malimbus

depends on a continuing flow of contributions from you, the

ornithologists of West Africa. So keep them coming.

With the Season's Greetings.

Humphrey Crick

HILARY FRY

Clearly history does sometimes repeat itself! Long standing

members of WAGS, whose membership goes back to the former

Nigerian Ornithological Society, will recall that one of us

paid tribute to Hilary Fry when he left Ahmadu Bello University,

Zaire to take up appointment at Aberdeen University in 1967.

'N.O.S.' and its Bulletin were then quite unestablished and it

was feared that the loss of 'Pooh-Bah' Hilary (as that earlier

tribute called him) might sound the death-knell of the Society.

However, thanks to the efforts of John Button and Roy Parker

as successive editors, the Bulletin survived and in 1974 Hilary,

now well established at Aberdeen, re-assumed editorship and

with the University facilities behind him, was able greatly to

improve the journal's format, and the standard of articles rose

correspondingly. Although the N.O.S. had acquired a set of

Officers it was Hilary's untiring energy that held the Society

together. With members never able to meet as a Society, the

Bulletin had to appear regularly for our survival.

Then in 1978, Hilary had the brilliant idea of convening an

'African Chat' at Liverpool. Over 20 members of N.O.S.

attended, and almost as many non-members interested in African

50

MALIMBUS 8

ornithology. The meeting was completely informal - no

advertised programme, no listed speakers. Was it inspired by

Hilary's Quaker upbringing? But this meeting led to the birth

of WAGS, with its new and now internationaly recognised

journal Malimbus . With this bilingual journal the work of

the Editor was greatly increased and it says much for Hilary's

drive and leadership that the journal has included so many

excellent articles from the francophone membership.

We feel that, on behalf of the Society we should congratulate

Hilary on the award of a DSC Degree by Aberdeen University,

for a thesis encompassing his life-time's work in African

Ornithology. In recent years he has furthered his great

contribution to African Ornithology with the assumption of

joint editorship of 'The Birds of Africa' following the sad

and sudden death of Leslie Brown. He has become the recognised

authority on Coraciiform birds on a world-wide basis,

culminating in his authoratitive monograph on The Bee-eaters

published by T. & A.D. Poyser. Furthermore, all African

Ornithologists are indebted to Hilary for his series of

Coded Bibliographies of African Ornithology.

Now, sadly, history has repeated itself with Hilary's moving

to pastures new with a Chair at Sultan Qaboos University,

Muscat. (We understand that 3 species of Bee-easter nest, if

not on the campus, at least very near to it!) On behalf of

all WAOS members we wish him every success in this new

venture and our good wishes are extended too to his wife

Kathie. We shall hope to learn how they are faring and to see

them when they come on leave.

Just as Hilary ensured that the N.O.S. Bulletin would contine

when he left Nigeria for Aberdeen, by talking to John Button

into becoming Editor, so now he has characteristically

arranged for the continuance of Malimbus . The new Editor,

Humphrey Crick, was a post-graduate student of Hilary's

(working on Bee-eaters!) at Aberdeen where he contines to hold

an appointment and will thus be able to continue to use the

same production facilities. Moreover he is currently also

working in London at The Tropical Development Research

Institute which will mean that the Secretary and the

Treasurer of the Society will be able to meet him relatively

easily. Hilary has also arranged for Gerard Morel our vice-

president, Roger Wilkinson of Chester Zoo and Bob Cheke also

at TDRI to form an editorial board to assist Humphrey Crick.

We wish the new Editorship well and thank them for undertaking

this arduous task, on which the future of WAOS depends.

J.H. Elgood, Secretary WAOS

R.E. Sharland, Treasurer WAOS

(Founders with Hilary Fry of NOS)

1986

Birds of Togo

51

RECORDS OF BIRDS SEEN IN THE REBULIC OF TOGO DURING

1984-1986

by Robert A. Cheke, J. Frank Walsh and Samuel A. Sowah

Received 1 April 1986

Revised 30 August 1986

In previous articles the senior authors have summarised their

observations on birds seen in Togo between 1972 and 1983

(Cheke & Walsh 1980, 1984, Cheke 1982). Most of the records

referred to northern areas and thus complemented the coastal

data provided by Robinson (1972) and Browne (1980). These

recent papers have extended and amplified on the data in the

lists of Dekeyser (1951), De Roo et (1969, 1970, 1971,

1972) and Louette (1975), the only authors to describe

substantial collections made in Togo this century. During

1984 J. F. W. (May-Aug) and R. A. C. (Aug-Oct) were again

living in Lama-Kara, in the north of Togo. In March and Sept-

Nov 1985 R. A. C. was based in Lome, on the coast, and also

worked in forested areas in S. W. Togo. In early 1986 J. F. W.

returned to Togo and added to the coastal data with

observations at Lome in Feb. These visits, together with

S. A. S.'s residence in Lama-Kara have provided opportunities

to improve our knowledge of the Togolese avifauna and, in

particular, to provide more information on forest birds and

dry season visitors. During 1985 (Mar and Sept-Nov) , R. A. C.

made a weekly census at Lome of a 2 km stretch of beach and

flooded wasteland between the Sara-Kawa Hotel and the harbour,

where J. F. W. also watched on 1 & 2 Feb 1986. The area is

visited by many waders and used as a roost by migrant terns.

Most of the forest birds were seen in the Badou area,

adjoining the Ghanaian border in S. W. Togo, but many were

also seen further north by J. F. W. and S. A. S. who

concentrated on the Aledjo forest.

Nomenclature and sequence for Afrotropical species in the list

below follow Hall & Moreau (1970) and Snow (1978). Species

additional to our previous lists are marked with asterisks and

for these birds references are given for other Togolese

records, if any are known. We have also included records of

interest such as observations on Palaearctic or intra-

African migrants, rare species, breeding, large flocks or

unusual behaviour. The coordinates of named localities are

provided as an Appendix.

AREIDAE

Eqretta qarzetta Little Egret On 19 June 1984 10 in the Anie

area. 2 at Anecho on 8 Mar 1985 and one at Lome on 31 Mar

1985 and 1-2 Feb 1986.

52

R. A. Cheke, J. F. Walsh & S. A. Sowah

MALIMBUS 8

*E. qularis Reef Heron One at Lome on 1 & 2 Feb 1986.

Recorded by Robinson (1972) and Browne (1980).

*E. intermedia Yellow-billed Egret One near Tsevie on 8 Mar

1985 and 2 at Lama-Kara on 17 Mar 1985.

*Ardea goliath Goliath Heron One at Anecho on 8 Mar 1985.

Recorded by Millet-Horsin (1923).

SCOPIDAE

Scopus umbretta Hammerlcop An active nest at 08‘^25'N beside

the Anie river on 19 June 1984. Pairs seen copulating at

Naboulgou on 30 Aug 1984 and mobbing an Allied Hornbill

Tockus fasciatus at 09‘’09'N, 01‘^24'E on 13 Sept 1984 .

CICONIIDAE

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis Saddlebill Stork One on the Oti

flood plains, south of Sansanne-Mango on 21 Aug 1984.

Anastomus lamelligerus Openbill One 47 km north of Naboulgou

on 13 May 1984.

ACCIPITRIDAE

*Circus aeruainosus Marsh Harrier Single males beside the

Oti river near Sansanne-Mango on 14 Oct 1984 and near Adeta on

14 Mar 1985. Recorded by Douaud (1957) and Browne (1980).

Circaetus cinereus Brown Snake Eagle One a few km south of

Dapaon on 27 Aug 1984.

C. cinerascens Smaller Banded Snake Eagle One at Mo on 27 &

28 June 1984.

*AcciDiter ovampensis Ovampo Sparrowhawk one at Avetonou on

10 Oct 1985.

*A. tachiro macroselides African Goshawk One at Djodji on

26 Mar 1985. Recorded by De Roo e^ (1972).

*A. minullus erythrops Western Little Sparrohawk One seen in

forest beside the waterfall at Kpime-Tomegbe on 3 Oct 1985.

After taking off and flying, below canopy level, to another

perch the hawk attracted the attention of party of 8 Tockus

fasciatus which followed it, calling loudly. A single A .

minullus was also seen at Djodji on 16 & 23 Oct 1985.

Recorded by De Roo e;t ( 1969 , 1971 ) and Browne ( 1980 ).

*Urotriorchis macrourus Long-tailed Hawk One at Djodji on

16 Oct 1985. The bird was first seen at mid-day when it

glided silently past at two-thirds the height of the forest

1986

Birds of Togo

53

trees. At 1630 hrs. the bird returned, being mobbed by some

Pycnonotus barbatus and glided for at least 50 m without

flapping its wings. The long tail may help the species to

fly in this manner in search of its main prey of squirrels

(Brown e;t e_l. 1982) which were abundant in the area.

Lophaetus occipitalis Long-crested Hawk Eagle One at

Naboulgou on 30 Aug 1984 and at Djodji on 21 & 26 Mar & 16

Oct 1985.

*Stephanoaetus coronatus Crowned Eagle A pair soaring over

the Mt Tamania area, west of Atakpame on 9 Oct 1985.

Recorded by Reichenhow (1897) and Millet-Horsin (1923).

*Hieratus pennatus Booted Eagle A pale phase bird in gallery

forest at 08'^39'N, 00°42'E beside the Kpaza river, in the

Fazao mountains, on 13 Sept 1984.

FALCONIDAE

Falco pereqrinus Peregrine Falcon One near Hiheatro on 30

Mar 1985 and one on the beach at Lome, trying to catch waders

and terns, on 27 Oct & 17 Nov 1985.

F. alopex Fox Kestrel One swooping down over the corpse of

Its mate, killed on the road at the Faille d'Aledjo on 28 May

1984. One bird at the same place on 17 June 1984, but not

seen after this date.

*F. tinnunculus rufescens West African Kestrel A pair

observed at Badou from 22 to 29 Mar 1985. They rested next to

a large nest of sticks in a tall tree; but they were never

seen to enter the nest, the ownership of which remained

unknown. One seen catching a lizard. The birds were absent

from the site in Oct 1985.

GRUIDAE

Balearica pavonina Crowned Crane Two on flood plains beside

the Oti river near Sansanne-Mango on 14 Oct 1984.

HAEMATOPODIDAE

*Haematopus ostralequs Oystercatcher One on the beach at

Lome on 17 Nov 1985.

CHARADRIIDAE

Vanellus spinosus Spur-winged Plover A pair beside the Oti

river near Sansanne-Mango on 21 & 27 Aug 1984.

*Charadrius dubius Little Ringed Plover One at Lome on 11

54

R. A. Cheke, J. F. Walsh & S. A. Sowah

MALIMBUS 8

Mar 1985. Recorded by Browne (1980) and a bird ringed as a

pullus in Nottinghamshire was recovered near Lome on 28 Jan

1984 (Mean & Hudson 1985).

*C. hiaticula Ringed Plover Twenty or more present at Lome

in Mar and Sept to Nov 1985. Maxima 50 on 24 Mar and 56 on

17 Nov, but 200 on 2 Feb 1986. Recorded by De Roo £t al .

(1969, 1972), Robinson (1972) and Browne (1980).

*C. alexandrinus Kentish Plover Singletons at Lome on 11 &

31 Mar and 10 Nov 1985.

*C. marginatus White-fronted Sand Plover Present on the

beach at Lome in Mar and Sept-Nov 1985. Maxima 18 on 1 Nov

and 20 pairs on 2 Feb 1986. Probably a breeding resident as

most birds paired off and some behaved as if defending nesting

areas. Recorded by De Roo et (1969) and Browne (1980).

*C. pecuarius Kittlitz's Sandplover One at Lome on 9 Mar

1985 .

*Pluvialis dominica Lesser Golden Plover One at Loma on 19

Oct 1985. See Elgood (1982) for comments on West African

records of this species.

*P. SQuatarola Grey Plover Present at Lome in Mar and Sept-

Nov 1985. Maxima 52 on 1 Nov when one bird was still in

summer plumage and 54 on 2 Feb 1986 . Recorded by De Roo e;t

al . (1972) and Browne (1980).

*Arenaria interores Turnstone Present at Lome in Mar and

Sept-Nov 1985 and Feb 1986. Maximum count 30 on 29 Sept when

one still in summer plumage. On 13 Oct one was seen being

snared by local trappers. Recorded by Browne (1980).

*Phalaropus fulicarius Grey Phalarope On 9 Mar 1985 three

were observed at Lome swimming and feeding in the sea just

beyond where the waves began to break. One found dead on the

beach at Lome on 24 Mar 1985.

SCOLOPACIDAE

*Limosa limosa Black-tailed Godwit One at Lome on 29 Sept

1985 .

*L. lapponica Bar-tailed Godwit A pair at Lome on 19 Oct, 1

s, 10 Nov 1985 . On 17 Nov 1985 8 were there, of which one was

found badly injured with a head wound, probably inflicted by

a catapult. The youth who made off with the bird said he was

going to eat it. Recorded by Browne (1980).

*Numenius arguata Curlew Two at Lome on 13 Oct and one on

19 Oct 1985 and 2 Feb 1986. Recorded by Millet-Horsin (1923)

and Browne (1980).

1986

Birds of Togo

55

*N. phaeopus Whimbrel Present at Lome in small numbers in

Mar and Sept-Nov 1985 and Feb 1986. Maximum 8 on 19 Oct

1985. Recorded by Browne (1980).

*Calidris alba Sanderling At least 100 present on the beach

at Lome in Mar and Sept-Nov 1985. The spring maximum in 1985

was 250 on 24 Mar and the autumn peak was 400 on 17 Nov.

Sixteen there in 1 Feb 1986 followed by an influx of 500 the

next day. Birds bearing rings which were longer than those

used by European ringing schemes, and possibly of South

African origin (C. J. Mead in litt. ) were seen on 9 Mar, 29

Sept, 19 Oct (3 ringed birds) and 17 Nov (2 ringed birds).

The species is probably often snared by local trappers, as one

was seen with a foot-less broken leg, and so the origin of

the ringed birds may eventually be demonstrated. Sanderlings

were also recorded at Lome by De Roo e^ (1969, 1972) and

by Browne (1980) but one, in full breeding plumage, at Lama-

Kara on 16 May 1984 is the first inland record for the country.

Inland records are also known from Ghana (Moorhouse 1968) and

Nigeria (Dowsett & Walsh 1968).

*C. alpina Dunlin One at Lome on 19 Oct 1985.

*C. canutus Knot One at Lome on 17 Nov 1985 and 16 there on

1 Feb 1986. Recorded by De Roo et (1972).

*C. ferruqinea Curlew Sandpiper One at Anecho on 8 Mar

1985. One at Lome on 19 Oct, 4 on 27 Oct and 19 on 17 Nov

1985.

*C. minuta Little Stint Three at Lome on 24 & 31 Mar 1985.

One there on 13 Oct, 7 from 19 Oct to 17 Nov 1985 and 100 on

2 Feb 1986. Recorded by Robinson (1972) and Browne (1980).

Trinqa ochropus Green Sandpiper Seven at Lome on 1 Mar and

singles on 29 Sept and 13 Oct 1985.

T. qlareola Wood Sandpiper Maximum count at Lome was 12 * *on

13 Oct 1985.

*T. staqnatilis Marsh Sandpiper One at Anecho on 8 Mar 1985

and another at Lome two days later. Recorded by Robinson

(1972 ) .

T. totanus Redshank One at Lome from 29 Sept to 17 Nov 1985

and on 1 Feb 1986.

*T. erythrops Spotted Redshank Four at Lama-Kara on 17 Mar

1985 .

T. nebularia Greenshank Maximum at Lome was 41 on 1 Feb

1986 .

*Philomachus puqnax Ruff One at Lome on 13 Oct, 2 there on

19 & 27 Oct and 1 on 10 Nov 1985. Recorded by Robinson (1972)

and Browne (1980).

56

R. A. Cheke, J. F. Walsh & S. A. Sowah

MALIMBUS 8

RECURVIROSTRIDAE

Himantopus himantopus Black-winged Stilt Six at Anecho on 8

Mar 1985.

*Recurvirostra avosetta Avocet At 1625 hrs on 27 Oct 1985 a

flock of 10 flew leisurely with occasional glides, in a V

formation over Lome beach and out to sea. When it was about

500 m out the flock veered west and disappeared over Ghanaian

waters. Five at Lome on 2 Feb 1986.

ROSTRATULIDAE

*Rostratula benghalensis Painted Snipe One at Lama-Kara on

17 Mar 1985. Recorded by Browne (1980).

GLAREOLIDAE

Pluvianus aegyptius Egyptien Plover One at Lama-Kara on 16

May 1984.

G. nuchalis Rock Pratincole Two pairs at the colony near

Landa-Pozanda (Cheke 1980) between 14 May & 8 Sept 1984.

None there on 16 Sept.

STERCORARIIDAE

*Stercorarius pomarinus Pomarine Skua One flying west off

Lome on 11 Mar 1985

*S. parasiticus Arctic Skua Three off Lome, harassing terns,

on 17 Nov 1985. A bird ringed as a pullus in Shetland in

1979 was recovered at Lome the next year (Spencer & Hudson

1981) .

LARIDAE

*Larus fuscus Lesser Black-backed Gull An immature bird off

Lome on 29 Sept 1985, 6 adults there on 1 Nov and singles on

10 & 17 Nov 1985. Recorded by Browne (1980).

*L. sabini Sabine's Gull A first winter bird at Lome on 2

Feb 1986.

*Gelochelidon nilotica Gull-billed Tern Singles at Lome on

9 Mar, 1 & 10 Nov and 5 there on 27 Oct 1985.

*Hvdroprogne tschegrava Caspian Tern Two at Anecho on 8 Mar

1985.

Sterna maxima Royal Tern Up to 8 present at Lome in Mar and

Sept-Nov 1985 and as many as 80 in Feb 1986.

1986

Birds of Togo

57

*S. sandvicensis Sandwich Tern Twelve at Anecho on 8 Mar

1985. Up to 7 at Lome in Mar 1985. Thirty there on 29 Sept

1985 but none in Oct, followed by a substantial influx in Nov.

Twenty noted on 8 Nov, preceding more than 750 on the 10th.

The latter included a raft of 150 resting in the sea and one

bird with a BTO-type ring. At least 8 British-ringed birds

have been recovered in Togo (Spencer & Hudson 1982). On 26

Nov only 26 were countèd and a similar number were present on

2 Feb 1986. Recorded by Browne (1980).

*S. hirundo Common Tern Singles at Lome on 24 Mar and 27

Oct 1985. 100 there on 8 Nov and more than 500 in an influx

with S. sandvicensis on 10 Nov but these had vanished by 12

Nov with only 25 remaining on 17 Nov. One of the latter was

bearing a BTO-type ring. Robinson (1972) mentioned recoveries

in Togo of birds ringed in Finland and Northumberland.

Spencer & Hudson (1982) cite 4 British-ringed birds found in

Togo. Recorded by Browne (1980) and by De Roo et (1969).

*S. dougallii Roseate Tern Singles at Lome on 11 Mar and 29

Sept 1985 and 2 there on 17 Nov 1985. Twelve British-ringed

birds have been recovered in Togo (Spencer & Hudson 1982).

*S. albifrons Little Tern Three at Lome on 10 Nov and 7 on

17 Nov 1985. Recorded by Browne (1980).

*S. balaenarum Damara Tern Six at Lome on 29 Sept 1985, of

which three were in breeding plumage. One of the latter

present on 13 & 19 Oct 1985 and 2 on 27 Oct and 10 Nov 1985.

When approached the birds walJced away while watching the

observer, seeming reluctant to fly. Recorded by Browne (1980)

whose birds were all in non-breeding plumage.

*Chilodonias niger Black Tern Fifty at Lome on 9 Mar 1985,

one of which was trailing a 2 m length of twine from a leg

and was presumably an escapee from a snare. About 40 still

present on the beach on 11 Mar, 10 on 20 Mar but none there on

24 Mar, although 4 were seen at a lagoon in Lome on 31 Mar

1985. Sixty at Lome on 29 Sept 1985, 80 feeding appeared on

27 Oct and 115 arrived with the influx of Sterna spp. on 10

Nov 1985. One C. niger on the latter date was badly oiled.

Forty still present on 17 Nov 1985 and 2 Feb 1986. Recorded

by De Roo ^ a^. (1969) and Browne (1980).

*S. leucoptera White-winged Black Tern Singles at Lome on

29 Sept and 27 Oct 1985 and 2 there on 1 Nov 1985.

COLUMBIDAE

*Columba iriditoraues Bronze-naped Pigeon One in forest

beside the waterfall at Kpime-Tomegbe on 12 Mar 1985.

Recorded by De Roo ^ al^. (1969, 1970).

*Turtur tympanistria Tambourine Dove One at Djodji on 21

Mar 1985. Recorded by De Roo et al.. (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972).

58

R. A. Cheke, J. F. Walsh & S. A. Sowah

MALIMBUS 8

* T. brehmeri Blue-headed Dove Singles at Djodji on 29 Mar

and 25 Oct 1985.

Oena capensis Masked Dove One at Lama-Kara on 17 Mar 1985.

Regularly seen in this area in the dry season.

MUSOPHAGIDAE

Corythaeola cristata Great Blue Turaco A pair 10 km south

of Landa-Mono on 19 June 1984.

Tauraco persa Guinea Turaco A pair near Aledjo on 22 July

1984. Calls were heard in the Aledjo forest from May to

August. A pair in gallery forest at 08‘‘39'N, 00°42'E, near

the source of the Kpaza river, in the Fazao mountains on

13 Sept 1984.

CUCULIDAE

Clamator levaillantii Striped Cuckoo Pairs seen 5 km east

of Bafilo on 27 May and at Sara-Kawa on 5 Aug 1984. One at

Atakpame on 21 Oct 1985.

Chrvsococcyx caprius Didric Cuckoo One calling near Mo on

16 June 1984, two near Landa-Pozanda the next day and one

calling at Lama-Kara on 30 Aug 1984 and at Badou in Mar &

Oct 1985.

*Centropus leucogaster Black-throated Coucal Singles at

Djodji on 26 Mar 1985 and at Badou and Kouniohou on 30 Mar

1985 .

*C. grillii Black Coucal Two widely separated birds were

seen in rank grass beside a dam at Lama-Kara on 24 July 1984.

None were seen at the same site on 28 July nor 26 Aug. One

near Tabligbo on 14 Nov 1985. Recorded by De Roo et al .

(1971) and Browne (1980).

Ceuchmochares aereus Yellowbill Singles near Mo on 15 June

and 3 July 1984 and Kouniohou on 30 Mar 1985.

OTIDAE

*Tyto alba Barn Owl One at Mo on 27 June 1984. Recorded

by De Roo et (1969 , 1970 ).

Otus leucotis White-faced Scops Owl One seen taking a beetle

in Lama-Kara on 2 July 1984.

Bubo africanus Spotted Eagle Owl One near Evou Apegame on

14 Oct 1985.

1986

Birds of Togo

59

CAPRIMULGIDAE

*CaDtimulqus climacutus Long-tailed Nighjar A male found

dead on the road 14 km north of Naboulgou on 13 May 1984 is

our only confirmed record. Additional sight records,

probably of this species, were from Landa-Pozanda in June &

July during both 1983 & 1984 and Badou on 21 Oct 1985. There

are many other records from Togo (millet-Horsin 1923, De Roo

^ 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, Browne 1980, Herremans &

Stevens 1983 ) .

APODIDAE

Telacanthura ussheri Mottled Spinetail A pair near Bafilo

on 27 May 1984.

Apus apus European Swift Two near Bafilo on 27 May and one

there on 26 Aug 1984. More than 100 in the port area of Lome

on 10 Mar 1985. Four near Dzobegan on 13 Mar 1985, 2 at

Lama-Kara on 17 Mar 1985. Twenty-five at Djodji on 21 Mar,

6 on 26 Mar and 2 on 29 Mar 1985.

A. caffer African White-rumped Swift Two pairs at Aledjo on

17 June 1984, one there on 28 July 1984, a single bird near

Mo on 29 June 1984 and 3 near Naboulgou on 27 Aug 1984.

A. melba Alpine Swift One near Dzobegan on 13 Mar 1985 in

the company of 4 A. apus and hundreds of H. rustica. Twenty-

six near Tchebebe on 18 Mar 1985 flying above a teak

plantation together with numberous D. urbica and A. affinis.

Fifteen feeding just above tree height over forest at Djodji

on 21 Mar 1985 and 4 there 5 days later. None seen during

Setp-Nov 1985.

ALCEDINIDAE

Ceryle maxima Giant Kingfisher Several beside the Anie

river near Blitta on 19 June 1984. A female at Djodji on

15 Oct 1985.

Alcedo quadribrachys Shining-blue Kingfisher One at Djodji

on 21 & 27 Mar 1985.

Alcedo cristata Malachite Kingfisher One near Mo on 30 June

1984 .

Ispidina picta Pygmy Kingfisher One killed by a car near

Mo on 27 June 1984.

*Halcyon chelicuti Striped Kingfisher One near Mo on 29

June 1984. One 20 km north of Lome on 20 Mar 1985 and

another found dead on Lome beach on 10 Nov 1985. Recorded by

De Roo et (1969, 1970, 1971).

60

R. A. Cheke, J. F. Walsh & S. A. Sowah

MALIMBÜS 8

H. leucocephala Grey-headed Kingfisher Two at Badou on 15

Mar 1985 and singles at Kouniohou and Atakpame on 23 Mar 1985.

H. seneqalensis Woodland Kingfisher Singles at Sansanne-

Mango and Naboulgou on 21 Aug and at Tchamba on 13 Sept 1984.

Noted at Tsevie, Kpalime, Amlame and Djodji in Mar 1985, and

at the latter side in Oct 1985.

H. malimbica Blue-breasted Kingfisher Three near Mo on 29

June 1984, 1 at Atakpame on 3 & 4 July 1984 and 1 near

Aledjo on 25 Aug 1984. One at Djodji on 15 Oct 1985.

MEROPIDAE

Merops pusillus Little Bee-eater One chivvying an immature

Indicator indicator at Lama-Kara on 16 May 1984 and a pair

near Aledjo on 17 June 1984.

M. hirundineus Swallow-tailed Bee-eater One at Landa-Mono

on 4 July 1984.

M. albicollis White-throated

25 May 1984, 12 at Landa-Mono

Aledjo on 17 June 1984. More

15 Mar 1985, up to 5 at Djodj,

Avegode on 14 Nov 1985.

M. nubicus Carmine Bee-eater

and Naboulgou on 30 Aug 1984.

Bee-eater Twenty near Mo on

on 28 May 1984 and a pair at

than 30 near Evou Apegame on

21-29 Mar 1985 and 3 near

Two between Sansanne-Mango

CORACIIDAE

Coracias abyssinica Abyssinian Roller One at Sansanne-

Mango on 21 & 30 Aug and 14 Oct 1984. None present in the

Lama-Kara area from June to mid Oct 1984.

C. cyanoaaster Blue-bellied Roller Singles at Tigbada on

19 June and at Landa-Mono on 4 July and a pair at Landa-

Pozanda on 16 Sept 1984. In Mar 1985 seen 30 km north of

Lome, as Sassanou, Amou-Oblo, Amlame & Kpalime. One at

Amou-Oblo on 4 Oct 1985.

*Eurystomus qularis Blue-throated Roller One near Dzobegan

on 13 Mar 1985, 2 near Badou on 15 Mar and 1 at Idifiou on

24 Oct 1985. Recorded by De Roo e_t (1969 , 1970 , 1972 ).

BUCEROTIDAE

Tropicranus albocristatus White-crested Hornbill One at the

waterfall at Kpime-Tomegbe on 3 Oct 1985.

T. ervthrorhynchus Red-billed Hornbill One 42 km north of

Sansanne-Mango on 21 Aug 1984 and another 50 km further south

on 30 Aug 1984 .

1986

Birds of Togo

61

CAPITONIDAE

Lybius vieilloti Vieillot 's Barbet Singles near Landa-Mono

on 26 July 1984 and 5 km east of Bafilo on 26 Aug 1984.

*L. hirsutus Hairy-breasted Barbet One at Djodji on 21 Mar

1985. A pair excavating holes in dead branches there 16-25

Oct 1985.^ Recorded by De Roo et (1969 , 1970, 1971, 1972).

Gymnobucco calvus Naked-faced Barbet Common in the Misahohe

forest in Mar 1985 and at Djodji in Mar & Oct 1985.

*Poqoniulu5 scolopaceus Speckled Tinker Bird One at Djodji

on 29 Mar 1985. Recorded by Dekeyser (1951), Douaud (1956)

and De Roo et (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972).

*P. leucolaima Lemon-rumped Tinker Bird Regular at Aledjo

between 17 June & 25 Aug 1984 . Recorded by De Roo e;t al .

(1969, 1971, 1972).

*Trachyphonus purpuratus qoffini Yellow-billed Barbet At

least three birds, were seen entering, leaving and waiting at

the entrance of a nest hole 10 m up a dead tree at Djodji in

Mar 1985. They were also heard calling in the area at the

time but none were present in Oct 1985, perhaps because their

breeding tree had been felled. Recorded by De Roo et al .

(1970) .

INDICATORIDAE

Indicator indicator Greater Honeyguide An immature at Lama-

Kara 16 May 1984.

*1. minor Lesser Honeyguide One 5 km east of Bafilo on 27

May 1984. Recorded by De Roo e^ (1969, 1971, 1972).

PICIDAE

*Campethera nivosa Buff-spotted Woodpecker A female at

Djodji on 29 Mar 1985. Recorded from Misahohe by Reichenhow

(1897).

*Dendropicos qabonensis Gaboon Woodpecker A female at

Djodji, feeding alone high up a tree, on 22 Oct 1985.

*D. pvrrhoqaster Fire-bellied Woodpecker A female in the

Misahohe forest on 13 Mar 1985 and a male there the next day.

Recorded from the same site by Reichenhow (1897).

ALAUDIDAE

Mirafra ruf ocinnamomea Flappet Lark Birds displaying at

62

R. A. Cheke, J. F. Walsh & S. A. Sowah

MALIMBUS 8

Lama-Kara and Mo on 2 June 1984 and another seen at Lama-Kara

on 17 Mar 1985.

HIRUNDINIDAE

*Riparia riparia European Sand Martin Fifteen, in company

with 100 Hirundo rustica, feeding low over the Gban-Houa

river at Djodji on 26 Mar 1985. Two with a party of 50 H.

rustica at the Lama-Kara dam on 6 Oct 1985 when all the birds

were seen splashing into the water. On 16 Oct 1985 5 seen at

Djodji together with 50 H. rustica and 2 Delichon urbica .

R. riparia was recorded from Togo by Douaud (1957).

Hirundo rustica European Swallow A few in the Lome area 6-

8 Mar 1985. More than 1000 present on the Plateau de Danyi,

with a flock of 500 at Dzobegan on 13 Mar 1985. These were

presumably migrants. A hunderd at Djodji on 26 Mar 1985.

At 1715 hrs on 6 Oct 1985 a flock of 50 swallows and 2 R .

riparia suddenly appeared over the lake at the Lama-Kara

dam. The birds swooped down low over the water and struck its

surface with their chests, making substantial and audible

splashes. The flock made two such passes over the lake

during a two or three minute spell before flying off southward.

Oct 6 was the first day that the Harmattan wind had been felt

at Lama-Kara that season, an earlier date than is usual, and

this wind may well aid migratory movements but its associated

dryness and heat make for difficult conditions. Perhaps the

birds were dampening their chest and belly feathers to aid

cooling, as well as taking the opportunity for a drink.

*H. leucosoma Pied-winged Swallow On 26 Aug 1984 a pair

were seen 5 km east of Bafilo. The birds were hawking with a

rapid flight, flying low over well-wooded savanna interspersed

with cultivated ground and a few huts. The speed of their

flight made them difficult to observe but they repeatedly flew

over the same ground and darted with remarkable agility around

the trees and other obstacles. Recorded by De Roo e^ al .

( 1969 ) .

H. abyssinica Lesser Striped Swallow Pairs seen at Atakpame

on 15 Mar 1985 and Badou on 2 Mar 1985. Many records from

May to July in the Lama-Kara area in 1984 and in previous

years when nesting noted (Cheke & Walsh 1980, 1984). Two

near Naboulgou on 21 Aug 1984 but none seen Sept-Nov 1985 nor

Sept-Dec 1981. The species is apparently a migrant, leaving

sooner than other wet season visitors, with a pattern

similar to that in Nigeria (Elgood £t 1973).

H. f uligula Rock Martin A pair at the Faille d'Aledjo on

25 Aug were associated with one of two nests on a rock face.

The birds appeared to be building and on 9 Sept they were

still present at the nest, which had been enlarged.

H. preussi Preuss ' Cliff Swallow Many at Naboulgou and one

57 km further north on 13 May 1984. Numerous near Mo on 29

1986

Birds of Togo

63

June 1984.

Delichon urbica House Martin On 18 Mar 1985 160 were

near Tchebebe and five more flocks were seen between there

and Blitta. The birds were feeding, together with Apus affinis

and A. melba, above roadside teak plantations adjoining

southern Guinea savanna woodland. Six at Djodji on 29 Mar

1985 and 2 there on 16 Oct 1985. The species' occurrence in

Togo was discussed by Douaud (1956a).

MOTACILLIDAE

Anthus leucophrys Plain-Backed Pipit Two at Lome on 31 Mar

1985 .

Macronyx croceus Yellow-throated Longclaw Two near Landa-

Pozanda on 2 June 1984 and singles at Aledjo on 17 June 1984

and at Mo on 30 June 1984.

*Motacilla flava Yellow Wagtail Up to 5 at Lome in Mar 1985.

One at Lama-Kara on 17 Mar 1985. Present at Lome Oct-Nov

1985, with a peak of 22 on 1 Nov. Recorded by Douaud (1957),

De Roo et (1972), Robinson (1972) and Browne (1980).

CAMPEPHAGIDAE

Campephaga phoenicea Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike

Lana-Pozanda on 26 May 1984, two males 5 km east of

next day and another male at Aledjo on 28 May 1984.

near Landa-Pozanda on 17 June and a male there on 8

A male at

Bafilo the

A pair

Sept 1984.

PYCNONOTIDAE

*Andropadus virens Little Greenbul One in the Misahohe

forest on 2 Oct 1985. Recorded by De Roo e^ (1969, 1970,

1971, 1972), Douaud (1956b) and Millet-Horsin (1923).

*Thescelocichla leucopleura White-tailed Greenbul Up to 4

at Djodji in Mar & Oct 1985.

*Chlorocichla simplex Simple Leaflove One at Djodji on 23

Mar 1985 . Recorded by Millet-Horsin (1923) and De Roo e^ a 1 .

(1969, 1970, 1971, 1972).

*Phyllastrephus scandens Leaflove Common in the Aledjo forest

1 July-25 Aug 1984. Also seen near Mo and at Atakpame on 3

July 1984 and in the Misahohe forest on 14 Mar 1985. Recorded

by De Roo e^ (1972 ).

*Nicator chloris Nicator One at Djodji on 26 Mar 1985.

Recorded by Douaud (1956b) and by De Roo et a^. (1969, 1971,

1972 ) .

64

R. A. Cheke, J. F. Walsh & S. A. Sowah

MALIMBUS 8

*Baeopoqon indicator togoensis Honeyguide Greenbul One in

the Misahohe forest on 2 Oct 1985. Recorded by Douaud (1956b)

and by De Roo ejt a^. (1971, 1972).

LANIIDAE

*Prionops caniceps Chestnut-bellied Helmet-shrike Six near

Sodo on 10 Oct 1985 and 2 at Djodji on 15 Oct 1985. Recorded

by De Roo ^ (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972).

Tchaqra senegala Black-crowned Tchagra One was seen carrying

a full bill-load of food 5 km east of Bafilo on 27 May 1984.

Laniarius aethiopicus Tropical Boubou Common in the Mo

valley June-July 1984.

*Lanius collaris Fiscal Shrike Noted at Anfoin, Atakpame,

Badou, Lome and Sassanou in Mar 1985 and at Lome in Oct 1985.

Recorded by De Roo et a]^. (1969 ), Robinson (1972 ) and Browne

( 1980 ) .

*L. senator Woodchat Shrike One at Tabligbo on 8 Mar 1985.

Recorded by Douaud (1957), Robinson (1972) and Browne (1980).

TURDIDAE

*Mvrmecocichla albifrons White-fronted Black Chat One near

Mo on 27 June 1984 and another near Naboulgou on 27 Aug 1984.

Recorded by Douaud (1956b) and De Roo et (1969).

SYLVIIDAE

*Cisticola juncidis Fan-tailed Warbler A single bird in

degraded savanna and farmland near Aledjo on 29 July 1984.

Present at Lome in Mar and Sept-Nov 1985 and Feb 1986.

Recorded by Browne (1980).

*C. lateralis Whistling Cisticola In 1984 a pair was

established in abandoned farmland within the Aledjo forest.

The birds were seen between 8 July and 25 Aug. On 26 Aug 1984

2 were singing in reply to each other 5 km east of Bafilo.

Recorded by De Roo et a_l. (1969 , 1970 , 1971 ).

C. brachyptera Siffling Cisticola One was flushed,

presumably from near a nest, carrying a faecal pellet at

Kpayando on 5 Aug 1984.

*Apalis flavida Yellow-breasted Apalis One at the Faille

d'Aledjo on 17 June 1984 . Recorded by De Roo e;t ( 1969 ).

*Hvperqerus atriceps Moho One in forest beside the Amoutchou

river, near Idifiou on 9 Oct 1985. Recorded by Millet-Horsin

(1923) and Browne 1980).

1986

Birds of Togo

65

*Ereniomela badiceps Brown-crowned Eremomela One at Djodji

on 2 Oct 1985. An active bird, leaf-gleaning near the top

of a forest tree.

*Svlvietta virens Green Crombec One made repeated visits to

the same part of a creeper, suggesting possible nesting, at

Aledjo on 17 June 1984.. A pair were still present at the

same site on 7 July. Recorded by De Roo e^ (1970, 1972).

*Phylloscopus trochilus Willow Warbler One in the Misahohe

forest on 13 Mar 1985. Recorded by Douaud (1957), De Roo

at. (1970, 1972) and Louette (1975).

*P. sibilatrix Wood Warbler One in the Misahohe forest on

14 Mar 1985. Recorded by Douaud (1957) and De Roo et al .

(1972 ) .

MUSCICAPIDAE

*Ficedula hypoleuca Pied Flycatcher One haw)cing from a tea)c

plantation beside a road near Tchebebe on 18 Mar 1985.

Recorded by Douaud (1957) and De Roo et (1970, 1972).

Melaenornis edolioides Black Flycatcher A pair 5 km east of

Bafilo on 27 May 1984.

*Bradornis pallidus Pale Flycatcher Singles near Bafilo on

27 May & 26 Aug 1984 , at 09‘'06'N, 01®01'E on 30 June 1984 and

at Tomegbe on 22 Oct 1985. Recorded by De Roo ^ (1969,

1971, 1972).

*Megabyas f lammulatus Shrike-flycatcher A female in the

Misahohe forest on 13 Mar 1985, perched upright occasionally

movings its tail from side to side. Recorded by De Roo ejt

( 1972 ).

*Terpsiphone ruf iventer Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher

Three at Djodji on 21 Mar 1985 and one at Badou two days

later. A female at Akloa on 17 Oct 1985. Recorded by De Roo

et ( 1971 , 1972 ) .

*Myioparus plumbeus Grey Tit-flycatcher Singles near Pewa

on 5 Aug 1984 and at Akloa on 17 Oct 1985. Recorded by De

Roo et al. (1969 ) .

PARIDAE

*Parus leucomelas White-shouldered Black Tit Four seen in

a fig tree near Aledjo on 17 June 1984 and noted near Mo on

26 & 27 June 1984. Recorded by De Roo et (1972).

NECTARINIIDAE

66

R. A. Cheke, J. F. Walsh & S. A. Sowah

MALIMBUS 8

Nectarinia coccinigaster Splendid Sunbird Many attracted to

flowers of Berlinia grandiflora at Mo May-June 1984.

N. cuprea Copper Sunbird Not seen at Lama-Kara in May 1984,

but two pairs were disputing there on 16 June. The species

was also feeding from B. grandiflora at Mo in May-June 1984.

*N. olivacea Olive Sunbird One at Tomegbe on 22 Oct 1985.

Recorded by Dekeyser (1951) and De Roo et (1969, 1970,

1971, 1972).

*N. verticalis Green-headed Sunbird Regularly seen in the

Aledjo forest and Mo areas from 25 May to 26 Aug 1984, often

feeding at flowers of B. grandiflora. Also recorded from the

Bafilo area on 5 & 26 Aug 1984. Recorded by De Roo et al .

(1969, 1970, 1971) and Browne (1980).

*N. cvanolaema Blue-throated Brown Sunbird A pair at Djodji

on 16 Oct 1985 feeding on the flowers of an African Tulip

Tree ( Spathodea camoanulata ) .

N. adelberti Buf f-throated Sunbird A pair at Djodji on 15

Oct 1985, feeding on flowers of S. camoanulata. Male seen

there again on 16 & 25 Oct 1985.

ZOSTEROPIDAE

*Zosterop5 senegalensis White-eye Singles near Mo on 26 &

29 June 1984. Recorded by De Roo ^ (1969, 1970, 1971,

1972) and Louette (1975).

EMBERIZIDAE

Emberiza tahapisi Cinnamon-breasted Rock-bunting One at

Defale on 14 Oct 1984.

E. cabanisi Cabani ' s Bunting A pair near Aledjo on 27 July

1984 .

FRINGILLIDAE

*Serinus gularis Streaky-headed Seed-eater At 0830 hrs on

28 June 1984 a flock of 30 were seen feeding on early millet

near Mo and at 0550 hrs on 30 June 1984 94 were counted in

the same field. One at Badou on 29 Mar 1985. Recorded by

De Roo et al. (1969, 1972) and Louette (1975).

PLOCEIDAE

*Ploceus niqerrimus castaneof uscus Chestnut and Black Weaver

A male near Tsevie on 8 Mar 1985 and at least 50 breeding in

a mixed colony with P. cucullatus 5 km south of Amoussokoko

1986

Birds of Togo

67

on 10 Oct 1985. Recorded by De Roo et (1969, 1970).

*P. tricolour Yellow-mantled Weaver Two pairs in the

Misahohe forest on 13 Mar 1985. A pair building in a colony

of 10 nests at Kouniohou on 23 Mar 1985 and other pairs near

Idifiou on 9 & 24 Oct 1985. Recorded by Dekeyser (1951) and

De Roo et (1969, 1971, 1972 ).

Malimbus rubricollis Red-headed Forest Weaver Seen at

Kpalime and Djodji in Mar 1985 and at Amoussokoko and Djodji

in Oct 1985.

M. rubriceps Red-headed Weaver A female at Aleheride on 25

May 1984.

Quelea erythrops Red-headed Dioch A flock of up to 30 birds

near Landa-Pozanda on 17 June 1984.

*Niqrita canicapilla Grey-crowned Negro-Finch A pair at the

Faille d'Aledjo on 26 June 1984 and another in gallery forest

at 09‘^06'N, 01‘^01'E on 28 June 1984 . A pair at Djodji in Mar

& Oct 1985. Recorded by De Roo et (1969, 1970, 1971) and

Browne ( 1980 ) .

*Pvtilia phoenicoptera Red-winged Pytilia One at Ayagba on

23 Oct 1985. Recorded by De Roo e^ (1969, 1972).

ESTRILDIDAE

*Spermophaga haematina Blue-billed Weaver One at Djodji on

29 Mar 1985. Recorded by De Roo e^ (1971).

Laqonosticta rubricata Blue-billed Firefinch A pair at Mo

on 16 June and a male there on 26 June 1984. Two pairs near

Landa-Pozanda on 17 June 1984.

L. larvata Black-faced Firefinch A pair at Mo on 26 June

1984 and a male at 09^23'N, Ol'^lO'E on 5 Aug 1984 .

Lonchura bicolor Blue-billed Mannikin A pair at Djodji on

16 Oct 1985.

*L. f rinqilloides Magpie Mannikin A flock of 5 seen preening

in a dead tree at Djodji on 25 Oct 1985. Recorded by De Roo

e;t (1969, 1972) and Browne ( 1980 ).

STURNIDAE

*Lamprotornis splendidus Splendid Starling Four in the

Misahohe forest on 13 Mar 1985, 3 at Djodji two days later

and 1 at Kounichou on 23 Mar 1985. Up to 3 at Djodji on 15,

16 & 25 Oct 1985. These noisy and conspicuous birds were

identified by their loud calls (noted as variable but

including "squaark, squaark" and "eey-aw ei ei uh") often

68

R. A. Cheke, J. F. Walsh & S. A. Sowah

MALIMBUS 8

issued from near the top of trees, their slimmer and sleeker

shape that L. purpureus, their longish rounded tails with dark

subterminal bands, dark blue cheeks and bellies contrasting

with the remainder of their paler green-blue glossy plumage.

Eyes white. No previous published records between Sierra

Leone and Benin but L. splendidus has been seen independently

by both L. Grimes (pers. comm.) and J. F. W.

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster Amethyst Starling A male 5 km

east of Bafilo on 27 May 1984 and two pairs at both Aledjo

and Landa-Pozanda on 17 June 1984. Eleven at Mo on 26 June

1984 and a male near Tsevie on 8 Mar 1985.

DICURIDAE

*Dicrurus ludwigii Square-tailed Drongo A pair at the Faille

d' Aledjo on 8 July 1984 and several more nearby on the same

day. Recorded by De Roo £t (1969, 1972).

ORIOLIDAE

*Oriolus brachyrhynchus Black-headed Oriole One in gallery

forest near Tsevie on 8 Mar 1985. Recorded by De Roo et al .

(1969, 1972).

*0. niqripennis Black-winged Oriole One in the Misahohe

forest on 13 Mar 1985. Recorded from the same site by

Reichenhow (1897).

DISCUSSION

In this paper we have given details of 107 species which we

had not seen during previous vists to Togo between 1972 and

1983. This surprisingly high number of new species is a

consequence of a concentration of effort in forests and

along the coastline. Also, few of the earlier vists had been

made during the dry season when many Palaearctic migrants

were present. Eighty of the 107 species had been collected or

seen in Togo by previous authors and in some cases are

unremarkable records of common species. Nevertheless the

rapid degradation of African habitats makes up to date

information important for planning the ever more urgent

conservation measures needed, especially for forest birds and

shorebirds .

The Damara Tern S. balaenarum is a threatened species listed

as rare by Collar & Stuart (1985). These authors also

included Togo as part of the former range of the threatened

White-necked Picathartes Picathartes qymnocephalus .

However, it is unlikely that this species has ever been

recorded in what is now the Republic of Togo (Cheke 1986):

many early records from 'Togo' refer to collections made in

1986

Birds of Togo

69

that part of 'Togoland' which is now part of Ghana. We have

found, however, four species within the Togolese borders which

Collar & Stuart list (in their Appendix G) as candidate species

for treatment as threatened in Africa. These four are:

Saddlebill Stork E. senegalensis , Long-tailed Hawk U. macrourus.

Crowned Crane B. pavonina and Bronze-naped Pigeon C .

iriditorgues . In addition Togo is a wintering area for the

Peregrine F. peregrinus and Roseate Tern S. dougallii which

are included in the list of threatened species in other Red

Data books.

Preservation of the beach-front at Lome and the enforced

banning of bird-snaring there and elsewhere would aid the

protection of the two rare terns, as well as many other

wintering shorebirds. The forested parts of the upland

Plateaux regions, near Kpalime (e.g. the Misahohe forest) and

Badou (e.g. the Asuakawkow valley), provide shelter for many

Afro-tropical species (including Damara Tern and White-necked

Picathartes) and are also important for Palaearctic migrants

such as A. apus, A. melba, D. urbica and H. rustica.

SUMMARY

Records of birds of interest seen in Togo during 1984-early

1986 are given. By concentrating on coastal and forest

habitats in the dry season, 107 species additional to those

in the authors' previous published lists for the country were

observed. Twenty-seven of the species were new to Togo.

Attention is drawn to rare species and conservation needs

RESUME

Renseignements sont donnés sur des oiseaux intéressants vus au

Togo entre 1984 et la debut de 1986. Cent-sept espèces, dont

la plupart étaient des oiseaux de la cote ou du foret,

étaient observées, en plus de celles déjà indiqués par les

auteurs. Vingt-sept espèces sont nouvelles pour le Togo. On

fait remarquer les espèces rares et des mesures pour la

protection des oiseaux.

REFERENCES

BROWN, L.H., URBAN, E.K. & NEWMAN, K. (1982) The Birds of

Africa . Vol. 1. Academie Press, London & New York

BROWNE, P.W.P. (1980) Birds observed near Lome, Togo in 1976

and 1977 Malimbus 2: 51 - 55

CHEKE, R.A. (1980) A small breeding colony of the Rock

Pratincole Glareola nuchalis liberiae in Togo Bull. Brit.

- 178

Orn. Cl. 100: 175

70

R. A. Cheke, J. F. Walsh & S. A. Sowah

MALIMBUS 8

CHEKE, R. A. (1982) More bird records from the Republic of

Togo. Ma limbus 4: 55 - 62

CHEKE, R. A. (1986) The supposed occurrence of the White-

necked Picathartes Picathartes qymnocephalus in Togo.

Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. (in press)

CHEKE, R. A. & WALSH, J. F. (1980) Records of birds from the

Republic of Togo. Malimbus 2: 112 - 120

CHEKE, R.A. & WALSH, J.F. (1984) Further bird records from

the Republic of Togo. Malimbus 6: 15-22

COLLAR, N.J. & STUART, S.N. (1985) Threatened birds of

Africa and related islands. The ICBP/IUSN Red Data book

Part 1. Third edition, Cambridge UK.

DEKEYSER, P.L. (1951) Mission A. Villiers au Togo et au

Dahomey (1950). 111. Oiseaux. Etudes Dahoméennes 5: 47 -

84

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. 81: 163 - 172

DE ROO, A., DE VREE, F. & 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. & 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. (1956a) L'hirondelle de fenêtre Delichon urbica

au Togo. Alauda 24: 146 - 147

DOUAUD, J. (1956b) Les oiseaux des Monts du Togo (Afrique

occidentale). Notes d'un voyage dans l'Adélé. Alauda

24: 221 - 227

DOUAUD, J. (1957) Les migrations au Togo (Afrique

occidentale). Alauda 25: 241 - 266

DOWSETT, R. J. & WALSH, J.F. (1968) Sanderlings inland in

Nigeria. Bull. Niger. Orn. Soc. 5: 63 - 64

HERREMANS, M. & STEVENS, J. (1983) Moult of the Long-tailed

Nightjar Caprimulqus climacurus Vieillot. Malimbus 5:

5-16

1986

Birds of Togo

71

LOUETTE, M. (1975) Contribution à l'ornithologie de la

Ré’publique du Togo. 5. Oiseaux récoltés par la quatrièïne

Mission zoologie belge. Rev. Zool. Afr. 89: 618 - 620

MEAD, C.J. & HUDSON, R. (1985) Report on bird-ringing for

1984. Ringing & Migration 6: 125 - 172

MILLET-HORSIN , (1923) Contribution à l'étude de la Faune

ornithologique du Bas - Togo. Bull. Comité d' etudes

Hist, et Sci de l'Afr. occid. fr. Jan-Mar 1923: 1-27

MOORHOUSE, I.D. (1968) Notes on some Palaearctic migrants in

Ghana. Bull. Niger. Orn. Soc. 5: 13 - 15

REICHENHOW, A. (1897) Zur vogelfauna von Togo. J. Orinth.

45: 1-57

ROBINSON, N. (1972) Bird notes from République du Togo.

Bull. Niger. Orn. Soc. 9: 85 - 89

SPENCER, R. & HUDSON, R. (1981) report on bird-ringing for

1980. Ringing & Migration 3: 213 - 256

SPENCER, R. & HUDSON, R. (1982) report on bird-ringing for

19 81. Ringing & Migration 4 : 6 5 - 12 8

Dr. R. A. Che)ce,

c/o Tropical Development and Research Institute,

College House, Wrights Lane, London W8 5SJ, UK

Dr. J. F. Walsh,

80 Arundel Road, Lytham St. Annes, Lancashire FY8 IBN, UK

S. A. Sowah,

c/o WHO Onchocerciasis Control Programme, B. P. 549,

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

72 R. A. Cheke, J. F. Walsh & S. A. Sowah MALIMBUS 8

APPENDIX

GAZETTEER OF TOGO

1986

Red-capped Robin Chat

73

THE RED-CAPPED ROBIN-CHAT COSSYPHA NATALENSIS IN

WEST AFRÏÜÂ ”

by S.N. Stuart and M.E. Gartshore

Received 28 April 1986

Revised 15 September 1986

INTRODUCTION

The Red-capped Robin-chat Cossypha natalensis is a common

bird in forest patches through much of eastern, central and

southern Africa. It avoids the main rainforest belt of west

and central Africa but occurs in forest patches to the south

of the belt, as far north as Gabon, Congo, northern Angola

and southern Zaire (Chapin 1953; Rand et 1959;

Schouteden 1962, 1964, 1965; Traylor 1963; Hall and Moreau

1970). However, to the north of the rainforest belt there

are only very few records, all along the northern edge of

rainforest in the forest-savanna mosaic. Four records shown

in Hall and Moreau (1970) to the south of Lake Chad are

errors (Snow 1978).

RECORDS FROM CAMEROON AND NIGERIA

There is only one record from Cameroon, of a bird collected

25 March 1944 to the north of Yaounde by A. I. Good (Chapin

1953; Good 1953; examination of specimen in Field Museum of

Natural History, Chicago (FMNH)). The species was first

recorded in Nigeria in 1977 when R.E. Sharland mist-netted a

bird in the Nindam Forest Reserver 5 km south of Kagoro

(09Z 32*N, 08Z 30'E) in Kadune State (Elgood 1982). These

two localities are both in the forest-savanna mosaic zone and

appear to be highly isolated from all other populations of

the species. It has been suggested that records to the north

of the rainforest refer to small numbers of migrant birds

(Chapin 1953; Good 1953; Britton 1971; Traylor and Archer

1982). There is now evidence to suggest that this might be

at least partially so, and that the species is a migrant,

breeding visitor to a very narrow belt along the northern

boundary of the rainforest from Nigeria and Cameroon, eastwards

to Central African Republic and southern Sudan (Traylor and

Archer 1982). All records from this belt, except some from

Nigeria, fall between March and August or September, with

evidence of breeding in June to August (Friedmann 1978;

Traylor and Archer 1982; Dyer et 1986). Migrant birds

would presumably spend the non-breeding season south of the

rainforest belt. The hypothesis that the species breeds

widely through this narrow vegetational belt north of the

rainforest rests on three pieces of evidence;

1. The occurrence of the species in southern Sudan. The

Red-capped Robin-chat is widely reported from southern

Sudan, occurring mainly in forests in mountainous and

hilly areas in the extreme south and south-east of the

s. N. Stuart & M.E. Gartshore

MALIMBUS 8

74

country (Cave and MacDonald 1955). However, the species

has also been reported from Bangangai Game Reserve (or

Bengengai) (04Z 51 'N, 27Z 45 ’E) (Chapin 1953; Cave and

MacDonald 1955; Traylor and Archer 1982; Hillman 1983) and

from the Aza Forest (04Z 42'N, 29Z 50'E) (Traylor and

Archer 1982). The habitat at Banganai, which is adjacent

to the Zaire border and close to the northern boundary of

the rainforest is rainforest-savanna mosaic (Hillman 1983).

Birds from Aza Forest were in breeding condition between

late June and late August (Traylor and Archer 1982).

2. Records from the Central African Republic. Three specimens

were collected in June 1976 in mature riverine forest, 11

km west of Baroua (05Z 20'N, 24Z 20'E) in south-eastern

Central African Republic (Friedmann 1978). There is

evidence that the species breeds at this locality since

the three specimens (two males and one female) all had

much enlarged gonads. Traylor and Archer (1982) suggested

that these birds were breeding migrants from the south.

3. Observations from Nigeria. Observations of this species

in Nindam Forest Reserve between 1977 and 1981 have shown

that a breeding population exists at this locality (Dyer

^ 1986). A total of 24 individuals was ringed during

that period including many spotted juveniles. On 15 June

1980 a nest containing 3 eggs was found in a hollow of a

small forest tree 1.5 m above the ground. It was

photographed (see Dyer et 1986). In this locality,

however, it seems that the population is resident (Dyer

et al . 1986), being unrecorded only in January and August.

In the light of these few records, we suggest that breeding

populations either resident or migratory, occur elsewhere along

the northern boundary of the rainforest in southern Sudan,

Central African Republic, Cameroon and Nigeria. In general,

there has been very little ornithological exploration of this

area. It is likely, therefore, that the populations of th

Red-capped Robin-chat in West Africa (Nigeria and Cameroon)

are not disjunct from others of the species. It is of course

possible that populations such as that at Nindam are recently

isolated as a result of habitat clearance.

SUBSPECIFIC IDENTITY

No firm conclusions can be made concerning the subspecific

identity of the birds in Cameroon and Nigeria because of the

very small number of specimens involved. Comments made here

are very tentative in light of a more thorough study on

subspeciation in this species being carried out by A. Prigogine.

This comparison of specimens was made using the very brief

descriptions of the subspecies given in White (1962b) as a

guide. SNS has examined A. I. Good's specimen (a female)

from Yaounde, and one (unsexed) collected by MEG in Nindam

Foresr Reserve in 1980. These were compared with specimens

at the British Museum (Natural History) (BMNH) at Tring, UK.,

including the female collected by F.O. from Bangangai in

1986

Red-capped Robin Chat

75

south-western Sudan. Subspecific variation in this species

appears to be slight. Birds from Sudan are usually referred

to the race intense. The specimen from Yaounde is unusually

dark on the breast, belly, cap, mantle, rump and upper tail-

coverts and in this respect it seems closest to larischi

which occurs in Gabon, Congo, southern Zaire and Angola

(White 1962b). It is also similar to larischi in its short

tail (65 mm) (see White 1962b). The specimens from Nindam

Forest Reserve and Bangangai Game Reserve are paler and

closest to intense in colouration. The Nigerian bird is

intermediate between intense and larischi in its tail length

(70 mm) but the Bangangai specimen is curiously closest to

larischi in this respect with a very short tail (63mm).

Clearly, these comparisons are of little relevance until more

specimens can be obtained, and the distribution of the species

north of the rainforest belt can be clarified.

CONCLUSION

We predict that future ornithological exploration will show

the Red-capped Robin-chat to be widely distributed north of

the rainforest belt in Africa in a narrow band in the forest-

savanna zone. We suspect that most of these populations are

composed of breeding migrants, but more research is needed

to confirm this.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to thank the curator- of ornithology at FMNH,

Chicago, for sending A. I. Good's specimen of Cossypha

natalensis to BMNH, Tring where SNS was able to examine it.

We would also like to thank P.R. Colston at BMNH for his

assistance, and Dr. P.A. Clancey and Dr. A. Prigogine for

their comments on an earlier draft of this paper. SNS is

grateful to J.A. McNeely and R.F. Scott for their permission

to use facilities at lUCN headquarters. Gland, during the

writing of this paper.

SUMMARY

The presence of the Red-capped Robin-chat north of the rain-

forest belt is discussed and it appears that populations in

Cameroon and Nigeria are probably not disjunct from others of

the species. It seems that populations to the north of the

rainforest are of breeding birds, but more work is needed to

show whether they are resident or migratory in origin.

RESUME

La presence nord du foret équatoriale du Cossypha natalensis

est discute. Il parait que les populations aux Cameroun et

76

S. N. Stuart & M.E. Gartshore

MALIMBUS 8

Nigeria ne sont pas reparees d'autres populations en Afrique

de L'ouest. C'est

REFERENCES

BRITTON, P.L. (1971) On the apparent movements of Cossypha

natalensis Bull. Brit. Orn . Club 91: 137 - 144

CAVE, F.O. and MACDONALD, J.D. (1985) The birds of Sudan,

their identification and distribution . London: Oliver

and Boyd.

CHAPIN, J.P. (1953) The birds of the Belgian Congo. Part 3.

Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. His. 75A

DYER, M., GARTSHORE, M.E. and SHARLAND, R.E. (1986) The

birds of Nindam Forest Reserve, Kagoro, Nigeria. Malimbus

8: 2 - 20

FRIEDMANN, H. (1978) Results of the Lathrop Central

African Republic Expedition 1976. Ornithology. Nat .

Hist. Mus. Los Angeles Country Contrib. Sci. 287: 1-22

GOOD, A. I. (1953) The birds of French Cameroon, Part 2.

Mem. Inst. Fr. Afr. Noire, Ser. Nat. Sci. 3:7- 269

HILLMAN, J.C. (1983) An ecological survey and management

recommendations for the Banqangai Game Reserve, south

west Sudan, with special reference to the Bongo Antelope

Unpublished report of the New York Zoological Society to

the Regional Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and

Tourism, South Sudan.

RAND, A.L., FRIEDMANN, H. and TRAYLOR, M.A. (1959) Birds of

Gabon and Moyen Congo. Fieldiana Zool. 41: 221 - 411

SCHOUTEDEN, H. (1962) La faune ornithologique du Mushie.

Doc. Zool. Mus. Roy. Afr. Centr . 2 .

SCHOUTEDEN, H. (1964) La faune ornithologique du Kasai.

Doc. Zool. Mus. Roy. Afr. Centr. 4 .

SCHOUTEDEN, H. (1965) La faune ornithologique du Kwango.

Doc. Zool. Mus. Roy. Afr. Centr . 8 .

TRAYLOR, M.A. (1963) Checklist of the birds of Angola.

Publ. cult. Co. Diam. Angola , Lisboa no. 61

TRAYLOR, M.A. and ARCHER, A.L. (1982) Some results of the

Field Museum 1977 Expedition of South Sudan. Scopus 6:

5-12

S.N. Stuart, Species Survival Commission, lUCN,

Avenue du Mont-Blanc, 1196, Gland, Switzerland

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

1986

Frugivores on Te trorchidium

77

OBSERVATIONS OF BIRDS AND OTHER FRUGIVORES FEEDING AT

TETRORCHIDIUM DIDYMOSTEMON

By Ruth Happel

Received 12 May 1986

Revised 22 September 1986

Fruit represents an important resource for many birds, and

a recent review provided data on fruigivory by tropical birds

(Snow 1981). I report here observations on feeding competition

between avian and mammalian fruigivores at fruiting trees of

Tetrorchidium didymostemon , a previously unreported food

resource for birds. This study was undertaken in 1983 and

1984 at the Botanic Reserve of Fourah Bay College, Freetown,

Sierra Leone. The Reserve is adjacent to the campus of

Fourah Bay College on Mt Aureol (08 28 'N, 13 14 'W) and is a

type of regenerating secondary forest (Field 1974) in which

T. didymostemon is relatively common (Hutchinson and Dalziel

1958 ) .

T.' didymostemon produces a large number of fruits per tree,

and, being a common tree, produces a large number of fruits

in the Reserve as a whole, relative to other trees. I

established 65 phenology plots, each 10 by 50 metres, to

record plant phenology. I monitored these plots monthly,

recording fruit and flower development of all reproductively

active plants. A total of 23 individuals of T. didymostemon

were present in these plots, and most were reproductively

active during my study. On average, trees produced 6500

fruits per year, with a range of c. 700 to c. 40,000 fruits

for other trees.

I conducted observations on two adjacent trees c.. 3m apart

which were large individuals containing about 30,000 fruits

each, or 4 to 5 times the average for this species. These

observations permitted me to note how this resource was

depleted through

The trees were visited by a relatively large number of bird

species. A total of 18 bird species were observed feeding

on fruits from this tree, representing a wide taxonomic

array: Turtur afer, Tockus fasciatus, Poqoniulus bilineatus

P. scolopaceus , P. subsulphureus , Oriolus brachyrhynchus ,

Corvus albus, Pycnonotus barbatus, Andropadus gracilirostris ,

P. niqricollis, Niqrita bicolor and N. canicapilla. The

fruits of these trees were also eaten by squirrels Heliosciurus

ruqobrachium and monkeys Cercopithecurs campbelli.

When actively eating fruits from a productive branchlet,

squirrels and monkeys ate approximately 12 fruits/min (N=ll,

78

R. Happel

MALIMBUS 8

s.d.=2.4) while birds of all sizes on average ate only 5

fruits/min (N=15, s.d.=2.1). That is because birds ate only

ripe, dehisced fruits, and thus had longer search times to

find acceptable fruits. However, because of their apparently

greater total biomass birds probably remove a larger total

number of fruits than either squirrels or monkeys.

It also appeared that birds were the only seed dispersers for

this plant. The fruits are dehiscent, but both squirrels and

monkeys ate the fruits before they dehisced, discarding the

skin and flesh, eating only the seeds. They acted as seed

predators, chewing and digesting the seeds, which did not

appear in the faeces of both either captive or free-ranging

animals. Birds ate only the dehisced fruits, and swallowed

the flesh and seeds whole, defaecating the seeds intact.

Therefore, birds, but not squirrels and monkeys, may be

important in ensuring the repreductive success of this plant.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I wish to thank Dr C Fyle of the Institute of African Studies

at Fourah Bay College for allowing my to be affiliated with

Fourah Bay College during my studies in Sierra Leone.

Financial support was provided by the Fulbright Foundation,

the Explorers Club, and The Dept, of Anthropology, Harvard.

REFERENCES

FIELD, G.D. (1974) Birds of Freetown Peninsula . Fourah Bay

College, Mt Aureol.

HUTCHINSON, J. and DALZIEL, J.M. (1958) Flora of West

Tropical Africa Vol 1, Pt. 2. Crown Agents for Oversea

Governments and Administrations: London, 2nd ed.

SNOW, D.W. (1981) Tropical frugivorous birds and their food

plants: a world survey. Biotropica 13: 1-14

Ruth E. Happel

Dept, of Anthropology, Peabody Museum, Harvard University

Cambridge MA 02138, USA

1986

Sound-Recorded Afrotropical Birds

79

REVISED LIST OF SOUND RECORDED AFROTROPICAL BIRDS

by C. CHAPPUIS

(Continued from Malimbus 8(1): 25-39)

PITTIDAL

'* chuana FITZ. 77. GIB.

Pinarocorys ervthropyqia (Mirafra arythro-

pygia) 78,

Heteromiraf ra ruddi (Mirafra ruddi) FITZ, 75.

GIB.

Certhilauda somalica (Mirafra somalica) Me VIC.

” albescens (Mirafra albescens) FITZ.

74. GIB.

*’ curviros tris (Mirafra curviros tris )

FITZ. 74. GIB.

•' albof ascia ta ( Ch ersomanes albofas-

ciata) FITZ. 74. GIB. LUT.

Alaemon alaudipes 73. 78.

Ammomanes cinctura 73. 78.

" deserti 73. 78.

" dunni (Calandrella dunni) 78.

” orayi FITZ. 79. GIB.

Galerida cristata 78 .

Heliccorys modesta (Galerida modesta) 78.

cramopterix leucotis 78. Me VIC.

" nier iceps 7 8 .

" siqnata Me VIC.

” 1 eucppareira Me VIC.

*' verticalis GIB.

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Sound-Recorded Afrotropical Birds

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Sound-Recorded Afrotropical Birds

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1986

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1986

Sound-Recorded Afrotropical Birds

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1986

Birds of Ivory Coast

89

NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF IVORY COAST

by J. Frank Walsh

Recently Thiollay (1985) has provided a fairly comprehensive

account of the birds of Ivory Coast. However, as he points

out in his introduction much remains to be learnt concerning

their detailed distribution, and the changes which are currently

taking place. In particular the northwest of the country has

been somewhat neglected by ornithologists.

Since 1973 I have made numerous short visits to the northern

half of the country, during which over 250 species of birds

have been recorded. Three visits yielded the bulk of the

useful observations. These were:

i. A short stay under canvas near Leraba Gare (10''06'N, 05^

05 ’W), just south of the Burkina Faso border in the

Leraba valley, from 19 to 24 February 1977, which gave

an opportunity to observe the northernmost area of

Ivory Coast at the height of the dry season.

ii. Stays at the Gouesesso Hotel, near Biankouma (07‘^52'N,

07'^40'W) on 23/24 November 1984 and 9 to 11 March 1985 ;

this hotel, in a village setting^ in a patch of relict

forest cum coffee plantation, must be one of the best

possible for the bird-watcher in West Africa.

iii. A stay in Odienne (09‘^36'N, 07‘^32'W) from 18 February to

24 March 1985 proved very interesting. To the west of

the town there is a small barrage, well vegetated and

not much disturbed, while within the town itself there

is a small valley with 4 or 5 hectares of paddy rice and

vegetable gardens, both sites were very productive.

Observations which add to the data given by Thiollay (1985),

or which concern species listed in Appendix G in Collar &

Sruart (1985) are given below. To reduce duplication^ lists

are given for Leraba Gare, Gouesesso and Odienne rice paddy

without further details. Other observations are dealt with in

a systematic list.

Among the birds seen in the vicinity of Leraba Gare the

following are perhaps worthy of note:

Neotis denhami , Merops hirundineus, Jynx torquilla,

Eremopterix leucotis, Hirundo smithii (pair occupying nest under

road bridge), H. griseopyga, Nilaus afer, Apalis flavida

( caniceps ) , Parisoma plumbeum, Anthreptes gabonica (3 birds

showing territorial behaviour), A. platura, Ploceus nigricollis,

Petronia dentata, Pytilia phoenicoptera , Estrilda larvata,

Lagonosticta rufopicta (the commonest of the fire finches) and

L. rara.

Among the more notable of the 73 species of birds seen at

Gouesesso were:

90

J. F. Walsh

MALIMBUS 8

Francolinus ahantensis (numerous and noisy in November but

not heard or seen in March), Psittacus erithacus , Corythaeola

cristata , Eurystomus qlaucurus and E. qularis (perched in

same dead tree in March), Phoeniculus aterrimus, Gymnobucco

calvus , Dendropicos qabonensis, Psalidoprocne obscura (March),

Lamprotornis iris (Noyember), Hyliota violacea (November),

Nectarinia adelberti, N. venusta, N. superba, Ploceus

niqerrimus and Lonchura bicolor.

Between 19 February and 23 March visits were paid to the

Odienne rice paddy area on 13 mornings. The total bird/days

for each species of the Charadriif ormes is given below:

Actophilornis africana 5

Charadrius dubius 7

Trinqa nebularia 1

T. qlareola 137

T. ochropus 5

T. erythropus 1 (14.3.85)

Gallinaqo media 9

G. qallinaqo 2

Calidris ferruqinea 1 (19.3.85)

C. minuta 3

Philomachus puqnax 12 ( 1 to 4 birds present on 5 days).

Rostratula benqhalensis 1

Glareola pratincola 5

Sterna leucoptera 12

SYSTEMATIC LIST

Eqretta qularis Reef Heron See Walsh (in press) for inland

records

Eqretta intermedia Yellow-billed Egret 1 Odienne lake

1.3.85

Ardea goliath Goliath Heron 2 Comoe Parc 16.7.75, 5 on

22.6.76

Ephippiorhynchus seneqalensis Saddlebill Stork Seen in

Comoe Parc in March, May, July and December. Published

breeding records (Walsh J.F. 1977) overlooked by Thiollay.

Ibis ibis Yellow-billed Stork 1 with woolly-necked Storks

Ciconia episcopus in Comoe Valley 08^'30'N, on 4.12.7 5

Pteronetta hartlaubi Harlaub's Duck 1 pr on Comoe at 08 22 'N

on 22.6.76, 3 pr on Sassandra river between 07®50'N and 08^

26'N on 2.3.85.

1986

Birds of Ivory Coast

91

Anas querquedula Garganey 4 pairs at Odienne dam 16.3.85

Falco cuvieri African Hobby Near Touba (08‘^22'N, 07°42'W)

on 6.3.85

Falco subbuteo European Hobby 1 at Odienne 16 & 17.3.85

Falco alopex Fox Kestrel 1 near Odienne on 24.2.85

Glareola nuchalis Rock Pratincole Many on White Bandama

between 08'00'N and 08®14'N (none further north) on

22.7.75; several Comoe river at 08‘'22'N and 07^58'N on

16.7.75, also on Nzi river in June 1979 and on the Cavally

river at 06‘^03'N on 31.5.79

Sterna leucoptera White-winged Black Tern Several present

Odienne dam from 23 February to 17 March 1985, maximum 10

birds

Rynchops flavirostris African Skimmer 4 on Sanssandra river

between 07‘'50'N and 08"26'N on 2.3.85

Oena capensis Masked Dove 1 male seen near Odienne on

17.3.85

Poicephalus robustus Brown-necked Parrot Flock of 5 birds

seen at the Nzi river 08‘^11'N on 20.10.74 ; 2 over the

Bondoukou-Bouna road at about 08^30'N on 31.12.74

Cuculus qularis Grey Cuckoo Regularly heard and seen at

Odienne lake from 23 February to 23 March, at least 3

individuals calling on latter date, suggests breeding

activity likely

Riparia riparia European Sand Martin 1 single bird in

Odienne town on 19.3.85, following a period of exceptional

harmattan dust

Luscinia suecica Bluethroat A male, subspecies not

determined, seen in vegetable gardens at Odienne on

26.2.85 constitutes the FIRST RECORD of this species in

Ivory Coast

Cercomela familiaris Familiar Chat A bird seen carrying

material in beak on four journeys at a small inselberg near

Odienne on 24.2.85 was presumably nesting

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus Sedge Warbler This species was

seen on 12 of 13 visits to the Odienne rice paddy, between

19 February and 23 March 1985, the maximum number recorded

being 8 on 26 February, in all 54 bird days recorded. This

species, for which Thiollay (1985) could give only one

record, must occur at the many rice paddies scattered about

the savanna zone, and probably overwinters there in important

numbers as it does in Ghana (Walsh & Grimes 1981).

92

J. F. Walsh

MALIMBUS 8

Muscicapa aauatica Swamp Flycatcher_^ 1 on the Kolonkoko

tributary of the Comoe river at 09" 12 'N, 04‘'27'W on

23.1.75

Ploceus niaricollis Spectacled Weaver 1 female at 09"^ 54 'N,

05'01'W on 24.1.75; several at Odienne dam 1.3.85

Malimbus rubriceps Red-headed Weaver 3 fresh nests with 1

male seen visiting at 09''54'N, 05^01'VJ on 24.1.75 ; a pair

seen visiting a nest near Odienne on 24.2.85, with another

fresh nest seen the same day, about 5 km away

Petronia dentata Bush Sparrow A few in Odienne area in

February and March 1985; 1 single bird at Touba airfield on

13 March

Nesocharis capistrata White-cheeked Olive-weaver 1 at Odienne

dam on 3.3.85

Pytilia pheonicoptera Red-winged Pytilia 1 pair at Odienne

dam 16.3.85

Estrilda larvata Black-faced Firefinch 1 male near Odienne

17.3.85

Laqonosticta rufopicta Bar-breasted Firefinch Several at

Kafolo village (09‘'36'N, 04^19'W) on 24.7.75

Lagonosticta rara Black-bellied Firefinch Seen at Odienne

dam on 16.3.85 and 7 km west of Odienne on 17.3.85

SUMMARY

As a supplement to the check-list of Thiollay (1985) records

of 73 species seen in Ivory Coast, including one species, the

Bluethroat, new to the country and evidence of nesting

activity by 5 species for which Thiollay (op. cit.) questions

the status, are given.

RESUME

Comme supplement de la check-liste de Thiollay (1985)

renseignements sur 73 espèces vus a la Cote d'ivoire, y

compris une espèce nouvelle au pays, la Gorgebleue, et

1 ' evidence de l'activité nicheuse de cinq espèces pour qui

Thiollay (op. cit) mit en doute le status, sont donnés.

REFERENCES

COLLAR, N. J. & STUART, S. N. (1985) Threatened Birds of Africa

and Related Islands. I.C.B.P., Cambridge

1986

Birds of Ivory Coast

93

THIOLLAY, J.M. (1985) The birds of Ivory Coast Malimbus 7:

1-59

WALSH, J.F. (1977) Nesting of the Jabiru Stork Ephippiorhynchus

seneqalensis in West Africa. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 97: 136

WALSH, J.F. (in press) Inland records of Western Reef Heron

Eqretta pularis in West Africa. Malimbus

WALSH, J.F. & GRIMES, L.G. (1981) Observations on some

Palaearctic land birds in Ghana. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 101:

327-334

Dr. J. Frank Walsh

80 Arundel Road, Lytham St. Annes, Lancs, FY8 IBN, UK.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE QUELEA:

ECOLOGY, MANAGEMENT, POLICY

Edited by C.C.H. ELLIOT and M.M. JAEGER,

FAO, Rome. Pp 132.

This book is a collection of abstracts of papers presented at

an International Conference on the Quelea in Nairobi, Kenya,

in January 1985. It also presents questions, answers and

comments which followed each presentation. Although brief,

the coverage of topics is diverse including historical back-

ground, progress and development in Quelea research and

control. The book looks at logistic problems of Quelea control

and the need for some form of regional cooperation to enhance

research and control. Subsequently, the book unifies these

topics by pointing out the need to look at future Quelea

research and control in the context of ecologically sound pest

management programmes.

The book is of interest to general ornithologists, but more

particularly to those with an interest in economic ornithology,

agriculturists, students and research biologists. It is

written in English and French.

David N. Manyanza

94

NOTICES

MALIMBUS 8

THE ICBP CONSERVATION EXPEDITION COMPETITION

The International Council for Bird Preservation is an

organisation concerned about the conservation, management and

wise utilisation of wild birds and their habitats worlwide.

In 1986/1987, ICBP will again be running a Conservation

Expedition Competition to encourage more expeditions to

carry out conservation based ornithological research abroad

and to gain experience of international conservation issues

and cooperation.

The competition is open to university or other ornithological

teams and ICBP will contribute up to $1,000 to each of the

best two proposals and may provide letters of endorsement

and management support to the runners-up. Projects will be

judged on their conservation content, feasibility and likely

impact; they must involve a local counterpart and have

clearance from the host government and/or a local institute.

In 1986, awards went to teams planning ornithological surveys

of the Reserve Naturelle no. 12 Marojejy in Madagascar and

Rio Mazan in southern Ecuador. The two expeditions have

been incorporated into ICBP's Conservation Programme which

includes nearly 100 conservation projects all over the

world.

To enter the competition, a project proposal must be

submitted to the ICBP Secretariat not later than 31 January

and prizes will be announced at the end of March. Full

details and entry forms are provided in a guide to the

competition, which costs £3 and can be obtained from ICBP,

219c Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 ODL, England.

COMMUNIQUE

L'institut Français de la Recherche Scientifique pour le

Développement en Coopération (ORSTOM) porte à la connaisance

de la communauté scientifique des ornithologues amateurs et

professionnels la création de la station ornithologique de

Mbour, située à 80 km au Sud de Dakar. Ce Centre de recherches

est spécialisé sur l'étude de l'écologie des espèces

paléarctiques et éthiopiennes ainsi que sur les divers aspects

liés à la conservation du patrimoine avif aunistique et â

l'intégration de l'homme dans les projets de protection des

écosystèmes naturels.

La station de Mbour constitue à cet effet une nouvelle

antenne sur la facade atlantique et reste à la disposition des

biologistes de tous horizons pour échanger des informations

de nature à accroitre nos connaissances sur 1' avif aune

résidente et migratrice de l'Ouest Africain.

1986

NOTICES

95

Mr Françoise BAILLON

Station d ' Ornithologie

ORSTOM - Tel. 57.10.44

B. P. 50 - MBOUR

Republique du Senegal

Mr Charles ROUCHOUSE

Mas du Marquet

La Plaine Gras

07700 BOURG-St-ANDEOL

Tel. 75.04.25.07

FRANCE

SYMPOSIUM

Birds of Evergreen Forest 8-10 September 1987 at The

Wilderness, Cape Province, South Africa. Papers and posters

on the following topics: forest bird communities,

biogeography of forest birds, population biology of forest

birds, conservation of forest avifaunas. Prospective

participants should contact the Symposium Organising

Committee, E.C.W.3.S., P.O. Box 1305, Port Elizabeth, 6000,

South Africa.

GABAR - A NEW JOURNAL COVERING AFRICAN RAPTORS

G7\BAR (Growth and Biology of African Raptors) is a new journal

publishing material on African raptors, here defined as

eagles, hawks, harriers, buzzards, falcons and owls, i.e.

excluding vultures, seabirds and other predatory birds already

covered by specialist publications in the region. Contents

will include: short papers on completed studies, progress

reports on ongoing research, short notes, unusual sightings,

conservation problems and a Forum in which opinions,

continuing controversies, constructive criticisms and new

ideas are aired and challenged. The first edition has been

printed and copies can be obtained free of charge from the

address below. Subsequent editions will be distributed on

receipt of a subscription fee.

Robert Simmons

Editor - GABAR

Dept, of Zoology

University of the Witwatersrand

Johannesburg 2001

Republic of South Africa.

7TH PAN-AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL CONGRESS

Announcement - A wonderful opportunity to observe African

wildlife, and birds in particular, to see what research is

currently under way there, and to learn of conservation

problems in the Afrotropics is presented by the 7th Pan-

African Ornithological Congress, to be held in Nairobi ,

Kenya , 28 August to 5 September 1988. This will be the

first such Congress in the heartland of tropical Africa.

The International Council for Bird Preservation will have one

day on the programme. A theme will be problems of the

96

NOTICES

MALIMBUS 8

Afrotropical forest avifaunas, with a coordinated excursion of

2 days in mid-Congress to selected, threatened Kenyan forests.

There will be symposia, contributed papers, poster sessions,

and, importantly, round-table and workshop sessions that

emphasize the significance of birds locally (birds problems

for man, such as crop destruction and aircraft collision with

birds, as well as man ' s problems that affect birds).

Circular 1 has been prepared, and is available from Congress

Organizer Don A. Turner (P.O. Box 48019, Nairobi, Kenya), to

whom one should write concerning all details.

Nairobi is a modern, international city situated close to

major parks and game reserves. The Kenyan avian physiologist

Prof. Geoffrey Maloiy is Chairman of the Local Committee on

Arrangements. Prof. David Pearson (Dept, of Biochemistry,

University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya) is

Chairman of the Scientific Programme Committee. The Congress

Vice-Chairmen are Robert Dowsett, Gerard Morel, Lester L.

Short and Jean Pierre Vande Weghe.

East Africa represents the last bulwark of the earth's

Pleistocene faunas - come and see them under ideal conditions!

- Lester L. Short, American Museum of Natural History, New

York, N.Y. 10024-5192, U.S.A.

COLOUR RINGED LITTLE EGRETS

Since 1981 we have been colour-ringing Little Egret ( Egretta

garzetta ) nestlings in the Camargue, Southern France, as

part of a long-term study of their population dynamics and

movement .

There is increasing evic L'nce that the majority of this

population winters in West Africa and four of these birds have

already been observed in Senegal. In addition. Little Egrets

ringed with metal rings in the Camiargue have been recovered in

the Gambia, Mali and Ghana. In order to better define the

areas used by these birds and the occurrence of any seasonal

movements, we would be grateful if ornithologists working in,

or visiting, any wetlands in West Africa could look out for

and report to us any observations of colour-ringed Egrets.

The colour rings are placed on the tibia. Up to three rings

per leg have been used in the following colours: red, blue,

green, white and orange. More recently we have used tall

(22 mm) rings which are engraved with up to 3 horizontal

stripes. The stripes may be 'thick' (4 mm) or 'thin' (1.5 mm).

Thus to correctly identify a colour ringed Egret it is

necessary to record, for both legs, the colour of the ring or

rings and in the case of striped rings the position (top,

middle or bottom of the ring) and thickness of the stripes.

Observations should be sent to Dr. H. HAFNER, Station

Biologique de la Tour du Valet, le Sambuc 13200 ARLES (France).

1986

NOTICES

97

We will be happy to send details of when and where birds

were ringed and what is known of there subseuqent life history.

MARQUAGE D'AIGRETTES GARZETTES AVEC DES BAGUES COLOREES

Dans le cadre d'une etude sur la dynamique de population de

l'aigrette garzette, (Egretta garzetta) nous avons bague

chaque annee et cela depuis 1981 des poussins d' Aigrettes en

Camargue, midi de la France. Pour cela, ont ete utilisées

des combinaisons de bagues de couleur permettant une

reconnaissance individuelle. De part ce baguage on sait déjà

qu'une partie de cette population hiverne en Afrique de

l'Ouest. Quatre de ces oiseaux bagues antérieurement avec des

bagues en metal ont ete reperes en Gambie, au Mali ainsi

qu'au Ghana.

Afin de mieux connaitre les sites importants pour ces oiseaux

ainsi que leurs deplacements, nous souhaiterions que nous

soient communiquées toutes observations d' Aigrettes baguees.

Les bagues sont placées sur le tibia. Le nombre de bagues

par tibia peut varier de 1 a 3 . Les couleurs utilisées sont:

blanc, vert, bleu, rouge, orange. Plus récemment, nous avons

utilise egalement de grandes bagues (22 mm de haut) comportant

des traits noirs horizontaux. Ces traits sont soit épais

(4 mm) soit minces (1.5 mm). Une bague peut comporter jusqu'à

trois traits: haut, milieu, bas.

Pour identifier de maniéré correcte une Aigrette baguee, il

est necessaire de transcrire pour les deux pattes la ou les

couleurs des bagues, et dans le cas des bagues comportant

des traits, leur épaisseur ainsi que leur disposition (haut,

milieu , bas ) .

Tout observations devrait etre envoyée a M.H. HAFNER, Station

Biologique de la Tour du Valat, le Sambuc 13200 ARLES (France).

Bien entendu nous communiquerons aux observateurs toutes

les données dont nous disposons (age, date et lieu de

baguage) sur les oiseaux reperes.

BIRDS OF LIBERIA

Wulf Gatter is writing an annotated checklist about birds of

Liberia/West Africa. He is interested to collect birds

notices of this occidental African country as well as offshore

records .

Names of correspondents will be notified in the published text.

Contact Wulf Gatter, Buchsstrasse 20, D 7318 Lenningen,

Federal Republic of Germany.

98

NOTICES

MALIMBUS 8

THIRD WORLD CONFERENCE OF BIRDS OF PREY, ISRAEL, 1987

This International Conference will be held from 22 to 27

March 1987 at Eilat, in Israel. It will be organised by the

World Working Group on Birds of Prey in conjunction with the

Israel Raptor Information Center and the U.S. Hawk Mountain

Sanctuary Association.

It will consist of 7 paper sessions, each of which may occupy

up to one whole day. The themes and their organisers will be:

1. Conservation and biology of rare raptors-B.U. Meyburg &

N. Collar.

2. Conservation and biology of rare owls-R.J. Clark &

H. Mikkola.

3. Raptors on migration and wintering grounds-M. Fuller &

J.M. Thiollay.

4. Population biology and breeding-I. Newton.

5. Raptors in polluted environments-R . Risebrough & J. Ledger.

6. Education-y. Leshem & J. Brett.

7. Legislation-P. Robinson.

Contributions to these different themes can also take the

form of poster papers.

This conference will take place within the framework of an

international festival which will include a raptor photography

competition (under the patronage of Eric Hosking), a painting

and drawing competition (patron, Roger Tory Peterson), a film

festival and competition, and ornithological and cultural

excursions and tours.

At this season the famous and massive migration movement of

raptors over Eilat is in full swing. This, in 1985, included

1.1 million raptors of 30 species.

For further information, write to the Hon. Secretary of the

World Working Group: Mr R.D. Chancellor, 15 Bolton Gardens,

London SW5 OAL, U.K.

RECOMaiANDATIONS AUX ACT ELUS

Halimbus publishes papers, short notes, reviews, letters and

illustrative material. Contributions should be typed on one side of

the paper with double spacing and wide margins. Wherever possible

papers first should have been submitted to at least one

ornithologist, or biologist for critical scrutiny.

Textual matter will be retyped for offset printing, but FIGURES

should be prepared as for final reproduction, ai^lowing for 20%

reduction, using Indian ink on good quality white paper, and

Letraset and Letratone lettering and shading (or equivalent) as

appropriate.

CONVENTIONS regarding tabular material, numbers, metric values

references etc. should be carefully adhered to, and can be sought in

this and other issues. Articles containing lengthy SPECIES-LISTS

should be tabular format (eg Malimbus 1:22-28 or 1: 49-54) or of

the textual format of Malimbus 1: 36-42 for short texts per species

or Malimbus 1:90-109 for longer texts.

From Vol. 9 (1987) onwards all references must be entered into the

bibliography of each Paper or Short Note.

OFFPRINTS 20 offprints of Papers (but not of Notes) will be sent to

a single author, qra tis , upon request. 10 additional offprints will

be issued in respect of a second and a third author of a paper, but

they will b.e photocopies. Offprints will not be stapled, bound or

covered; they are merely cut from copies of the journal.

REFERENCES OMITTED FROM BIBLIOGRAPHIES

BANNERMAN 1930-51 or 1953 ; Bannerman, D.A. (1930-51) The Birds

of West Tropical, Africa . 8 vols. Crown Agents, London;

(1953) The Birds of West and Equatorial Africa. 2 vols.

Oliver & BoycU Ë3^inburgh and London

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

London.

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

Ward, P. (1966) Palaearctic migrants in Nigeria. Ibis 108:

84-116

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

R.J. (1973) African migrants in Nigeria. Ibis 115: 1-45 and

375-411

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

Spéciation in African Passerine Birds. British Museum (Nat.

Hist. ), London

MACKWORTH-PRAED & GRANT 1957-73 or 1970-73 : Mackworth-Praed ,

C.W. & Grant, C.H.B. (1957-73) African Handbook of Birds.

Series I, Birds of Eastern and North Eastern Africa (2nd

ed.), 2 vols. Series II, Birds of the Southern Third Africa.

2 vols. Series III, Birds of West Central and Western

Africa., 2 vols. Longmans Green & Co., London; (1970-73)

African Handbook of Birds. Series III, Birds of West Central

and Westirri Africa. Vol. 1, 1970, Non-passerines, Vol. 2,

1973, Passerines. Longmans,, London.

SERLE & MOREL 1977 : Serle, W. & Morel, G.J. (1977) A Field Guide

to the Birds of West Africa. Collins, London.

SNOW, D.W. (Ed.) 1978 : An Atlas of Spéciation in African

Non-Passerine Birds. British Museum (Nat. Hist.), London

WHITE 1960-65 : White, C.M.N. (1960) A check list of the

Ethiopian Muscicapidae (Sylviinae) Part I Occasional papers

of the National Museums of Southern Rhodesia 3 (24B) :

399-430; (1961)' A revised check list of African broadbills

... etc. Lusaka : Government Printer; (1962a) A check list

of the Ethiopian Muscicapidae (Sylviinae) Parts II and III.

Occ. Pap. Nat. Mus. S. Rhod. 3 (26B) : 653-738; (1962b) A

revised check list of African shrikes ... etc. Lusaka ;

Gov. Printer; a revised check list of African flycatchers

... etc. Lusaka : • GoV . Printer; and (1965) A revised check

list of African Non-Passerine ,Birds.' Lusaka : Gov. Printer.

MALIMBOS 8(2) December 1986

CONTENTS

Editorial 49

Hilary Fry; A Tribute by John Elgood & Bob Sharland 49-50

Records of Birds Seen in the Republic of Togo During

1984-1986. R.A. Cheke, J.F. Walsh & S.A. Sowah 51-72

The Red-capped Robin-chat Cossypha natalensis

in West Africa, S.N. Stuart & M.E. Gartshore 73-76

Observations of Birds and Other Frugivores Feeding at

Te trorchidium didymos temon. R.E. Happel 77-78

Revised List of Sound-Recorded Afrotropical Birds.

C. Chappuis (Continued from Malimbus 8(1): 25-39). 79-88

Notes on the Birds of Ivory Coast,

J.F. Walsh 89-93

Review 93

94-98

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