}

MALIMBUS

Journal of the West African Ornithological Society

Societe d’Ornithologie de l’Ouest Africain

THE BIRDS OF IVORY COAST

J. M. THIOLLAY

VOLUME 7 1985

Number 1 , May

WEST AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

SOCIETE D’ORNITHOLOGIE DE L’OUEST AFRICAIN

Conseil 1982-1985

President Professeur Brian J. Harris

Vice-President Dr Gerard J . Morel

Secretaire Professeur John H. Elgood

Tresorier Mr Robert E . Sharland

Editeur, Malimbus Dr C. Hilary Fry

La correspondance doit etre adressee coniine suit .

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

(Aberdeen University Department of Zoology, Tillydrone Avenue,

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

- les cotisations et toutes questions financieres au tresorier

(Flat 7 Elsdown Court, Southampton Road, Rinfcwood, Hants, UK;

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

Biological Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria)

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

B.P. 20, Senegal)

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

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

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

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

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

logie de ces regions principalement au moyen de son journal Malimbus

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

Les demandes d' adhesion seront les bienvenues. Les cotisations

annuel les * sont de fi£ pour les membres ordinaires, et de 15£ Pour

les Societes. Les membres regoivent gratuitement Malimbus .

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

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

format que Malimbus ) sont disponibles a raison de 2 livres anglaises

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

ponibles . Prix a la demande.

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

frangais pour leur encaissement au Royaume-Uni ou en livres

nigerianes pour leur encaissement au Nigeria.

AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY PRESS : La Societe est tres reconnaissante de

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

appartient le copyright de Malimbus.

ISSN : 0331 - 3689

Emblem design by Philip Blasdale

Received 8 October 1984

THING LIBRARY

iRY

Since the first check-list of the birds of Ivory Coast (Brunei & Thiollay

1969-70) , a considerable amount of new data have been obtained throuqh

field work by the author in 1967-1984 and 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 birdwatchers attracted to this country, which is now

one of the easiest, safest and most rewarding for tourism in West Africa.

The maintenance of the best preserved and the largest areas of natural

guinea woodland, dense rain forest, and coastal laeroons west 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, where it does not exceed 300-400 m except for some granite

inselbergs reaching 600-700 m. Rut the northwestern 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 Liberia-

Guinea border culminating at 1,752 m. Only the peak of Nimba lies above

the critical 1,500 m level, considered by Moreau (1966) to be the lower

limit of montane habitat.

The three large, north-south river systems are the Comoe, Rand air a 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 giving cool moist winds from the southern

equatorial maritime air mass (rainy season) and hot. dry harmattan from the

northern tropical continental air mass. Fig. 1 shows that annual rainfall

> 2,000 mm occurs only in the extreme southeast, southwest and west of the

country. Rainfall decreases 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) ,

evergreen rain forest

semideci duous forest

SOUTHERN GUINEA SAVANNA

NORTHERN GUINEA SAVANNA

□ SUDAN ZONE

B _J OUDOi.'! i- v ‘

Fia. 2. Main vegetation zones and localities cited. A - Azaony N.P.,

C = Cono§ N.P., M = Marou6 N.P., T - Tai N.P.

5

covered by an often nearly continuous, rather dense, savanna woodland

(includinq 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 what 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 composed of a Monotes-Burkea-

Erythrophleum-Ber 1 inia-Par inar i association .

Other habitats are:

- Larae inland lakes, dams, and hydroelectric reservoirs in the southwest

(Buyo), southeast (Ayam£) , centre (Taabo, Kossou) and north (Ferkessedougou) .

Their fluctuating level does not allow the development of reed 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

Nimba. It is dense and very humid, rich in tree-ferns and epiphytes.

- Montane grassland, on the ridge of Mt Nimba, 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, which disappear when 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. Many more species perform

local seasonal movements or have fluctuating numbers, without ever leaving

the country completely. Most, if not all, of the migratory movements are

northward at the onset of the rainy season and southward in the early dry

season. So general is the migratory tendency among the avifauna that I

wonder if there is a single savanna or open wetland species which 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.

POPULATION CHANGES AND CONSERVATION

Outside some large agricultural schemes (Ferkessedougou area) , most of the

northern savannas are yet undisturted, 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 changed dramatically during the last 30 years. The remain

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 conmercial 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 swamp forest, 30,000 ha) , Tai (dense rain forest, 330,000 ha) , Mt Nunba

(montane forest, 5,000 ha) , Mt Peko and Mt Sangb§ (63,000 ha) as well as

Lamto (2,700 ha) and Maraoud (100,000 ha) in the forest-savanna. mosaic zone,

and Comod (1.1 M ha) in the northern guinea zone. Together their cover 5%

of the country. Although intensive poaching . greatly reduces the mammal

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 (where most of them had a .

relict population) . Large new reservoirs have also favoured ranae 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 Turaco

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 undisturbed . 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 more 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 period, 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, 1

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.

PRESENTATION OF DATA

The sequence of families and species, as well as scientific and Encrlish

names, follow Serle & Morel (1977) with a few modifications taken from Hall

& Moreau (1970), Snow (1978) and White (1960-65) when it seemed more .

appropriate. Alternative names of Bannerman (1953) , used in a preliminary

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 mere on observers' than birds' presences. All are from 1967 to

1984.

The country has been surveyed unevenly, the centre, southwest and

northeast beina 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 explicitly 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, Bouakb and Ferkessddougou) , 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, Maraoub, Comob) have

been taken as a whole, even when they cross different vegetation zones or

habitats .

Status is summarized by the followincr 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

between areas;

8

M

A

P

= migrant, i.e. most of the population leaves the country, usually during

the rainy season. However, sore individuals (immature birds) may remair

in small numbers all year (some intra-African migrants in northern vor}

Coast and many Palearctic migrants throughout) ;

= intra-African, mostly originating from Sudan or Sahel zones;

= Palearctic, of Eurasian or North Africa origin;

V = vagrant , i.e. irregular or rare;

B = breeds in Ivory Coast. Nests have been found or breeding proofs _

obtained for most species. Some residents, for which data are lacking,

are assumed to breed when their year-round presence has been actually

established and no movements have been cited elsewhere 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.

BMH = Bouet & Millet-Horsin (1916-1917) ; PW - Forbes-Watson (1971) .

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This work has greatly benefitted from the numerous data provided by

resident and visiting ornithologists. The most important 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. Maliverney, 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.

SYSTEMATIC LIST

PODICIPEDIDAE

Pociceps ( Pol iocephalus ) zuf icollis Dabchick R B .

ponds of the interior from Taabo to Korhogo and Corned,

together (Ramoussoukro) . At least local movements.

PROCELLARI I DAE

Calonectris ( Procellar ia ) dimedea Cory's Shearwater

specimens collected at sea near Abidjan (INTES) .

Pterodroma (Bulweria) mollis Soft-plumaged Petrel V ? One sight

record offshore near Jacqueville (Feb, Ledant) .

Oceanites oceanicus Wilson's Petrel M (from Antarctic) . Seen several

times at sea near Abidjan (Nov— Mar) .

Regular on lakes a

sometimes up to 25

PM? Several

9

PHALACROCORACI DAE

Anhinga rufa African Darter R B ?

waters in every month. Local movements.

Small numbers on inland and coastal

Formerly much more abundant (BMH) .

Phalacrocorax car bo White-breasted Cormorant V . One specimen , well

seen and described on a lake near Ferkessedougou (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 Comoe.

Only the African race payesii has been so far identified, but Palearc ic

migrants may occur .

Ixobrychus sturmii African Dwarf Bittern A M ? B ? 16 isolated records

from Abidjan, San Pedro and Grabo to Lamto, Toumodi, Rouakb and Comoe, mostly

in the dry season, on dense or wooded marshes or ponds.

Tigriornis leucolopha African Tiger Heron R B . Widespread throughout

the forest zone, alona forest streams (even small watercourses in dense

undergrowth) from coastal mangroves to Comob.

Nycticorax leuconotus White-backed Night Heron P 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 Lamto

and Rouakb.

Nycticorax nycticorax Black-crowned Night Heron R B + P M ? Very loca

on some lagoons (Grand Rassan to Azagny) and inland lakes (from Ayamb to

Korhogo and Comob) mainly Oct to Apr (Palearctic migrants ?) . _

resident population is breeding in mangroves (young brought to Abidjan zoo,

Laucrinie) .

Bubulcus (Ardeola ) ibis Cattle Foret 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, Rouakb, Korhogo,

Comob) . 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 bank:

of lagoons, rivers and lakes throughout the forest zone, up to Korhogo and

Comob.

Egretta ardesiaca Black Egret R B ? Locally abundant on some coastal

marshes (Grand Rassam, Azagny, San Pedro) . Also occurs on inland lakes

(Buyo to Bouakb) . Recorded every month.

Egretta garzetta Little Egret

waters. Decreases in July-Aug.

migrants may be involved.

Status ? Common on all coastal or inland.

Both residents and African or even Palearctic

10

Egretta gu laris Reef Heron R B ? Widespread on coastal lagoons (at

least Oct- July) but rarer on inland lakes (Taabo, Kossou, Bouakd) .

Egretta intermedia Yellow— billed Egret R B ? Not uncommon (mostly

solitary birds) from the coast (Abidjan to San Pedro) to Kossou and

Comod. Often unnoticed among the numerous other egrets. So far only

recorded from Nov to June.

Egretta alba Great White Egret R B A M ? Common in all wetlands (a

little less numerous than E. garzetta) . More abundant during 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 Korhogo. One recovery (Soubre) of a bird r inched in Poland.

Ardea melanocephala Black— headed Heron PR. 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,

Bouakd , Kossou, Comod, etc. Breeds with A. cinerea near Korhogo.

Ardea purpurea Purple Heron P M R B ? Seems too common throughout

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 (Comod) . Few vagrants elsewhere (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 (breeding

in Comod) .

CICGNIIDAE

Ciconia ciconia White Stork PM. Uncommon. Small groups, mainly nea2

bush fires, from Dec to Apr, throughout the savannas, down 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 Bouakd,

Formerly breeding (Bouna and Ferkessddougou up to 1968) south even to

Bouakd (BMH) 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 swarmps and grasslands. Commoner from Dec to Mar, but also seen

during the wet season on southern (Azagny, San Pedro) as well as northern

(Comod) wetlands. Usually in pairs.

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis Saddlebill Stork R B ? Isolated pairs ii

Comod only.

11

Anastomus lamelligerus Openbill Stork A M . Vagrants, Nov to May,

along the coast and in the north (Comod, Ouangolodougou and Odiennd) .

Also Lamto (Aug, Prenderqast) .

Leptoptilos crumeniferus Marabou Stork A M . Uncommon. Mainly Comod

(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 Comod (Mar-Apr, Maliverney, Ullmann) .

THRESKIOPNITHIDAE

Threskiornis aethiopica Sacred Ibis V . One sight record (Comod, Feb).

Bostrychia (Hagedashia) hagedash Hadada Ibis P B . Common throughout

undisturbed guinean savanna (gallery forest, wooded river banks) . Locally

in the forest zone (lakes, swamps, 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 (FW) .

Bostrychia (Lampribis ) olivacea Olive Ibis P 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 Whistling Duck V . 2 birds seen (Korhogo,

Feb) .

Dendrocygna viduata White- faced Whistling Duck P B . Throughout the

year but marked movements. Small numbers scattered in the south (Grand

Bassam, Azagny, Buyo) where 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 (Comod, 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 Bouakd. Pecently some more southern records (Lamto, Buyo) .

Pteronetta hartlaubi Hartlaub's Duck R B . Uncommon, but formerly

widespread along watercourses throughout the forest zone from coastal

lagoons (Abidjan, Azacmy, San Pedro) to Maraoud and Comod, including man

made lakes (Ayamd) . Range and numbers now much reduced by huntincr and

forest destruction.

Sarkidiornis melanotos Comb Duck V . 3 recent dry season records

north of 9°30. A pair cited near Odiennd (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 ,

Comoe) . Breeding pairs in June-Aug .

Anas querquedula Garganey P M . Increasing occurrence in recent

years on northern (Ferkessddougou, Korhogo) and central (Bouakd) 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 (Ferkessedougou, Feb) .

ACCIPITRIDAE

Aegypius (Torgos) tracheliotus Lappet-faced Vulture

recent records (solitary birds) from Comod (Jan to Apr,

Also Boundiali (Nov, Ledant) .

Trigonoceps occipitalis White-headed Vulture R B .

natural savannas north of 8°N . 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°N, of this mainly sahelian vulture.

Gyps africanus White— backed Vulture P B . The commonest vulture of

the northern savannas (nearly all north of 8^, and mostly concentrated

in Comae ) . 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 Baould 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°N along gallery forests in savanna woodland. Not

favoured by extensive industrial oil-palm plantations where it rarely

feeds .

Circus macrourus Pallid Harrier P M . By far the rarest harrier (no

more than 20 records, all north of 8°N, 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 Marsh Harrier P M . Common and widespread during

the dry season over marshes, ricefields and humid grasslands throughout

the country (even on montane grassland of Mt Nimba, Brosset) . Many

immature birds remain during the wet season.

Polyboroides typus Harrier Hawk R B . One of the commonest raptor

throughout the forest zone (up to Odiennh and Ferkessedougou along gallery

forest) . Reaches its highest density in the Borassus Palm, southern guinean

savanna .

V . Several

north of 9°N) .

Uncommon in the

13

Terathopius ecaudatus Bateleur R B . Now uncommon over most of the

northern savannas, except the hills near Boundiali and mainly the Comod

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°N 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 Maraoud and Lamto. Much rarer from June to

Oct and only found north of 9°N.

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 10°N (breeding zone, dry season). Expanding

range during the rainy season where it is more frequent from Bouakd to

Lamto (June-Sep) than at the other months.

Dryotriorchis 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 Sparrowhawk R B . The rarest forest

Accipiter , known from Grand Lahou and San Pedro to Nimba, Lamto and

Maraoud. Recently discovered (nest with young, Dec, Ledant) in the Comod.

Prefers high dense forest, but also seen in large trees dominating secondary

growth or plantations.

Accipiter tachiro macro seel ides African Goshawk R B . Common through-

out the forest zone including submontane forest (Nimba) , high mangrove

(Azagny) and gallery forest (Comod) . Readily encountered in both primary

and secondary forests and even in adjoining plantations or well wooded

savannas . Its heavy rufous pigmentation of underparts , typical of a zone

of allopatry with the Chestnut-flanked Goshawk, may lead to confusion with

Accipiter castanilius which has never been definitely identified in Ivory

Coast. Its characteristic call, when flying over the forest in early

morning, differentiates it (may be up to the species level) from A.

toussenelii of Gabon and Southern Cameroun where this call has never been

heard, (Brosset, Chappuis and pers. obs.).

Accipiter erythropus ( minullus ) West African Little Sparrowhawk R B .

Nearly as widespread as the above species (Coast to Comod) 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

I the well wooded guinea savanna south to Lamto. Very few individuals

I remain between mid- June and early Sep, most of them in the north.

Accipiter ovampensis Ovampo Sparrowhawk A M . Uncommon wet season

visitor, breeding south of the equator. Ten records in savanna, from 13

June to 5 Oct, from Lamto to Comod and Boundiali.

14

Melierax metabates Chanting Goshawk R B . Widespread and sedentary

in northern guinea and subsudan savanna. Reaches its southern limit m

the Maraoud . 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 south to Bouake (2) and even Lamto

(1 , Feb). Many fewer in June-Sep (5, Comod, Ferkessddougou) . 9% are blacl

phase .

Urotriorchis macrourus Long-tailed Hawk R B . Widespread all over

the forest zone from Ayame, Abidjan, Ta'i and Nimba to Lamto and Maraoud.

Mostly restricted to primary or high secondary forest.

Kaupifalco monogrammicus Lizard Buzzard R B . The commonest resident

raptor over all the savannas, decreasing north of 8°N, and now entering

large forest clearings down to Tai and Abidjan.

Buteo buteo Coirmon or Steppe Buzzard PM. A local wintering migrant

in small numbers from Nov to Apr in natural guinea savanna (Lamto, Maraoud

and Comod) .

Buteo auguralis Red-tailed Buzzard A M B . A common dry season breed®

in the large clearings of all the forest zone, and to a lesser extent m

the well wooded northern guinea savanna, but surprisingly scarce m the

intervening southern guinea savanna (such as from Lamto to Bouake) .

Disappears from May (in the south) or mid-June (in the north) to Sep (excep

1 July record in Comod) .

Butastur rufipennis Grasshopper Buzzard A M . Common non breeding,

visitor from Nov to Apr (max. in Jan, departures from mid Mar onwards) in a

savannas north 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 m 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

Comod. Now much rarer after its main food has almost disappeared through

a dramatic hunting pressure.

Polemaetus bellicosus Martial Eaale R B . Scattered pairs in undis-

turbed savannas north of 8°N (mainly Comod, also Boundiali and one pair m

Maraoud) . Rare immature vagrants south to Toumodi and Lamto during the

dry season.

Spizaetus ( Cassinaetus ) africanus Cassin's Hawk Eagle R R . Mich

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, Lamto, Maraoud and Agnibilekrou) . Readily survives in secondary

forest and even plantations where a fair number of large trees have been

left.

1

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, Maraoub ,

Comod). Extreme localities: Boundiali and Dabou.

Hieraaetus ( fasciatus ) spilogaster African Hawk Eagle RB . A very

small population in and around Comod and from Katiola to Ferkessddougou and

Boundiali.

Hieraaetus pennatus Booted Eagle P M . Much commoner 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 Bouakd to Comod, Korhogo and Odiennd) from Dec to Apr

and July record.

Aguila 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 (Comoe to Boundiali) .

Seems to have much decreased since the late 1960s.

Aguila wahlbergi Wahlberg's Eagle A M . Conrnoner and more widely

distributed than A. rapax , from Lamto to Comod and Odiennd. 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 elsewhere 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 Ayamd, 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 cormonest raptor during

the dry season in every open habitat throughout the country. Everywhere

nore than 90% of Kites belong to the African race parasiticus which 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 Comod (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°N,

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:

Comod, 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

Macheirhamphus alcinus Bat Hawk R B . Secretive but widely distributed

from the south (Abidjan, Tai, Niirfoa) to the north (Korhogo, Comob) . Forest

clearings, savanna woodlands and towns or villages with big trees.

Pandion haliaetus Osprey P M . Cornnon all over the coastal waters and

inland lakes or large rivers. Many birds remain from June to Aug. 2

recoveries from Finland.

Falco biarmicus banner Falcon R B . A breeding pair in nearly every

town or large village with big trees throughout the northern savanna (from

Bouakb 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 comman in the Boras sus Palm

savanna of Lamto (and formerly Dabou) . Decreases north of 7 30 as palms

disappear and savanna becomes dxier to concentrate only around gallery foresl

(Comob) 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 (Comob, 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 everywhere 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 Comob where 20 to 60

birds often concentrate in Jan-Apr.

Falco tinnunculus Common Kestrel P M A M R B ? Quite common Palearctic

migrants (F. t. tinnunculus) found throughout the country, greatly outnumber

the African race (F. t. rufescens) only seen from Comob to the Korhogo -

Boundiali area where it might breed. Only 2 dates between June and Seo.

Falco alopex Fox Kestrel A M . A mere 21 dry season sightings north

of 8°N (plus one at Lamto) and none from June to Oct. Some were seen

around inselbergs (Korhogo, Niangbo) where they could breed.

.

17

SAGITTARI IDAE

Sagittarius serpentarius Secretary Bird A M . Only a dry season

visitor to the open plains of Comob (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, Bouakb, Comoe) .

Francolinus bicalcaratus Double-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 Ferkessbdougou .

Francolinus lathami Latham's Francolin R B . The only forest francolin,

common throughout the forest zone and northern galleries (to Sipilou and

Comob) .

Coturnix coturnix Common Quail P M . Formerly rather common from Dabou

to Korhogo (BMH) . Now rare in Dec-Mar, from Lamto to Comod.

Coturnix delegorguei Harlequin Quail A M . Rare dry season visitor, in

more wooded savannas than other quails. 5 records from Lamto to

Ferkessddoucrou .

Coturnix chinensis ( Excalf actor ia adansoni ) Blue Quail R (?) B . The

only common quail in every savanna, from Dabou to 10°N, 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 White-breasted Guineafowl 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 Dudkud, Daloa, Oumd 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 Guineafowl 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 palm-swamp of Azagny.

Numida meleagris Helmeted Guineafowl 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 Comod) .

18

RALLIDAE

Himantornis haematopus Nkulengu Rail R B . Its characteristic pre awn

call is frequently heard throughout the dense primary or old secondary fores

from Abidjan and Tai to Niiriba and Como£.

Canirallus oculeus Grey-throated Rail R B . Rare (or overlooked ?) .

Azagny and Tai to Maraoud. More swampy forest than Himantornis.

Crex crex Com Crake PM. 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 fores

clearings and coastal grasslands. North of 9°N, it is rare during the dry

season but increases and remains throuah the wet months.

Porzana porzana Spotted Crake P M

Abidjan (Apr, Champroux) .

One good sighting in a swamp near

Porzana parva P M . One identified in humid secondary orassland near

Abidjan (june, Vogel) .

Limnocorax (Amaurornis) flavirostris Plack Crake R B

abundant in all swamps from the coast to the north.

Usually

Sarothrura pulchra White-spotted Flufftail P B . By far the most

widely distributed small forest crake (or song best known .) Often _hear

(and tape recorded by Chappuis) from Abidjan to Tai, Nimba and Comoe.

Sarothrura elegans Buff-spotted Flufftail K B ? Only identified in

second arowth near Tai.

sarothrura rufa Ped-chested Flufftail P B ? Probably marshes near

Dabou, but awaits confirmation.

Gallinula angulata Lesser Moorhen RE? Widespread m swamps from

Abidjan and Azagny to Ferkessddougou . Apparent seasonal movements bu

does not seem to disappear at anytime.

Gallinula chloropus Moorhen R B . As widespread as G. angulata but

less abundant, more local and more sedentary.

GRUIDAE

Porzana marginal is Striped Crake A M ? B ? One certain and 2 possible

records in swamps around Korhogo (Mar to Jul) .

Balearica pavonina Crowned Crane V ? B ? Only seen (Feb-Mar) in Comoe.

Also cited from OdiennS (Bouet) . A captive bird at Korhogo said to have

been taken unfledged in the area. Rare.

Porphgrio porphgrio Purple Gallinule R B . Abundant in the few

reedbeds remaining along the coast (Grand Bassam to Azagny and San Pedro)

and inland (Bouakd to Korhogo) .

Porphgrio alleni Allen's Gallinule R B . Common in the northern swamps

with floating vegetation (Bouakd to Korhogo) where it breeds during the we

season. Increases in the dry season on coastal marshes.

19

HELIORNITHIDAE

Podica senegalensis African Finfoot R B . Widespread along wooded

banks of all rivers and lagoons (from the coast to Comod) .

OTIDIDAE

Eupodotis senegalensis White-bellied Bustard R B . Seems to be much

rarer today in guinea savannas (from Toumodi to Comod 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 Lamto and Sipilou) . Decreases north of 9°30.

Neotis denhami Denham's Bustard AMB . Dry season migrant, today

well represented only in Comod, but formerly mere widespread and entering

southern guinea savanna (BMH) . Spectacular nuptial display in Feb-Mar.

Otis arabs Sudan Bustard V . Identified a single time (Mar, Comod) .

One old record from Beoumi (Lowe) of this sahelian bird, which has much

decreased during the last 20 years in West Africa.

JACANIDAE

Actophilornis africana African Jacana R B . Abundant on all suitable

swamps throughout the country. Huge concentrations of maybe more than

1 ,000 near Ferkessddougou in the dry season.

Microparra capensis Lesser Jacana R B ? Recognized several times

(Mar to July) near Abidjan (Champroux) and Bouakd (Ledant) .

BURHINIDAE

Burhinus ( Oedicnemus ) senegalensis Senegal Thick-Knee AMB. 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°N.

Burhinus (Oedinecmus) vermiculatu-s 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 movements

according to water level.

Burhinus (Oedicnemus ) capensis Spotted Thick-Knee R B ? So far

recorded from Nov to Mar north of 9°N (Comod, Korhogo, Boundiali, Tingrela) .

HAEMATOPODIDAE

Haematopus ostralegus Oystercatcher PM. 4 dry season records near

Abid j an .

20

charadriidae

I

Vanellus ( Xiphidiopterus ) albiceps Black-shouldered Wattled Plover R or

A M B ? Common 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 (Comod)

and ricefields (Ferkessddougou) .

Vanellus ( Sarciophorus ) tectus Black-headed Plover V . Rare dry

season vagrant in the extreme north (Comod, Ouangolodougou) .

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 ( Stephanibyx ) lugubris Senegal Plover R B . Very local in

the forest zone (mainly south of 7°N) in secondary grasslands. local

movements. Nests found near Abidjan (Apr) . Seen in most months (only

durinq the early rains in Lamto) .

Pluvialis squatarola Grey Plover P M . Regular along the coast (small

croups , Nov to June). Rare inland (Kossou, Ledant) .

Charadrius hiaticula Ringed Plover P M . Common alone 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 Comod) .

Charadrius alexandrinus Kentish Plover P M . 5 records around Abidjan

(Dec to Mar) .

Charadrius marginatus White-fronted Sandp lover R B ? 6 records on

lakes (Bouakd , Kossou) and rivers (Lamto, Comod) in the dry season,

except one near Grand Lahou (June) .

Charadrius pecuarius Kittlitz's Sandplover V . Dry season vagrant alone

northern rivers (Comod) and drying ricefields (Korhogo) .

Charadrius forbesi Forbes' Banded Plover R B . Breeds during the rains

north of 8°N 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 Whirribrel 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 . Common 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 hgpoleucos Common Sandpiper P M . All along every river, in

all months, often in pairs.

Tringa totanus Redshank PM. On coastal laqoons, inland lakes and

northern ponds, Aug to Mar. Uncommon.

Tringa erythropus Spotted Redshank P M . 7 dry season records from

Abidjan to Taabo, Korhogo and Comod.

Tringa terek ( Xenus cinereus) Terek Sandpiper P V . 1 sighting

(Abidjan, Dec, Champroux) .

Arenaria interpres Turnstone P M . More than 20 records along the

coast, from Abidjan to San Pedro (Sept to Feb) .

Gallinago (Capella) media Great Snipe P M . Cortmon around Korhoqo,

rarer on coastal marshes.

Gallinago (Capella) gallinago Common Snipe P M . Commoner in coastal

swamps than inland (Toumodi, Bouakd, Korhogo) .

Gallinago ( Lymnocryptes ) minima Jack Snipe PM. 2 (Grand Bassam Feb,

and Bouake Mar) .

Calidris canutus Knot PM. 5 records on the coast (Abidjan to San

Pedro. Nov to Mar) .

Calidris alpina Dunlin 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, Bouakd) , 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 (Bouakd)

and river (Comod, up to 3 together) . Jan to Mar.

22

RECURVI ROSTRI DAE

Himantopus himantopus Black^inged Stilt P M (or A M ?) Often seen on

both coastal laqoons (Grand Bassam to San Pedro) and inland lakes (Taabo

Ferkessddougou and Comod) . Flocks of 2 to 18 birds. Nov to May.

TOSTRATULIDAE

Rostratula benghalensis Painted Snipe P B ? Common and breeding m

Korhoqo marshes Mar-Aug. Decreases there in other months to appear on

southern swamps (Conod, Bouakd, Touirodi) . One siqhtino near Abidjan (June,

Champroux) .

GLAREOLIDAE

Pluvianus aegyptius Egyptian Plover R B ? Upper course of the river

Corned, formerly down to the coast (EMH) . Not seen June-Oct.

Cursorius temminckii Temminck's Courser A M . Dry season visitor

north of 8°N , rarely south to Lamto. Partial to recently burnt savannas.

Cursorius ( Rhinoptilus ) chalcopterus Pronze-winqed Courser A MB ? Mud

mare frequent than c. temminckii, south to Bouake and rarely Toumodi. Nov

to May only, often at night on the roads.

Glareola pratincole Conran Pratincole A (or P ?) M . ReCT?1^’. ^round

Bouake (Jan-Apr) but surprisingly not yet seen elsewhere except Abidjan

(Jan, Vogel) .

Glareola nuchalis Rock Pratincole P (?) B . Control on the larqe rivers

of all the forest tone. Breeds on bare rocks (dry season) and almost

disappears along with their specialized habitat submerged by rising waters

from June to Oct.

LARI DAE

Stercorarius pomarinus Pomarine Skua

rare.

p v . At sea, Nov to Mar. Not

Stercorarius parasiticus Arctic Skua

Stercorarius skua Great Skua P V .

bird ringed in Scotland.

P V . Commoner than S. pomarinus.

One recovery (Ass ini, June) of a

P V . 3 records near Abidjan

Larus ridibundus Black-headed Gull - - - - - . ,,

(Dec-Feb) . Several others, unconfirmed because of possible confusion with

the next species.

larus cirrocephalus Grey-headed Gull A V . 2 records near Abidjan (Not

Feb) .

Larus fxemaj sabini Sabine's Gull P M . Abundant offshore, at least ii

Feb-Mar. Also seen near the coast (Ledant) .

Larus fuscus Lesser Black-backed Gull P M (and 1. do minlcanus ?) Seen

4 times on the coast (sea and lagoon, Abidjan to Azaqny, Nov-far, ail

immatures) and once inland (Kossou) .

23

Sterna ( Gelochelidon ) nilotica Gull- billed Tern P V . Grand Bassam,

Nov; Kossou , Feb. Rare.

Sterna ( Hydroprogne ) caspia Caspian Tern P M . Common all alona the

coast. Some remain in summer. One recovery from Finland.

Sterna maxima Royal Tern A M . Very common alona the coast, many

remaining in June-Aug.

Sterna sandvicensis Sandwich Tern PM. Abundant on all coastal

lagoons and beaches. Hundreds remain in summer months. Large numbers are

killed for food or fun (with other terns) aiving numerous recoveries from

Great Britain (51), Ireland (9), Germany (10), France (6), Holland (3),

Sweden (2) , Denmark (2) , Belgium (2) , USSR (1) .

Sterna hirundo Common Tern P M . Less abundant than the previous 2

species but equally widespread. 29 recoveries from Sweden, Norway, Finland,

Denmark, Holland, Germany, Belgium, Great Britain, France, Spain and Italy.

Sterna dougalii Roseate Tern P M . Several identifications confirmed

by 3 recoveries from Great Britain and Ireland.

Sterna paradisea Arctic Tern P M . Few definite visual records, but 6

recoveries from Great Britain.

Sterna fuscata Sooty Tern A V . At least 3 observations offshore. One

specimen collected near Abidjan (Intes) .

Sterna albifrons Little Tern 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 Whiskered Tern P M . The least common of

the 3 Chlidonias. Only seen 6 times on coastal lagoons.

Sterna (Chlidonias ) leucoptera White- winged Tern P M . Not uncommon

in small numbers from coastal lagoons to Kossou (Nov to Mar) .

Sterna (Chlidonias) nigra Black Tern P M . The mast 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 (Ayamd to Azagny, July to Dec) .

PTEROCLIDIDAE

Pterocles quadr icinctus Four- banded Sandgrouse A M B . Widespread in

savannas north of 8°N from Nov to May.

TURNICIDAE

Turnix sylvatica Button Quail R B Common in coastal and derived

savannas. Local north of the forest zone (reaches Comod) .

24

Turnix hottentotta (nana) Black-ruirped Button Quail R B . Parer and

mare 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.

COLUMBIDAE

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 Ta'i, Nimba, Sipilou and Lamto.

Columba malherhii (Turturoena iriditorques ) Bronze-naped Pigeon R B .

Also typical of the canopy of high dense forest, but extends north o

Bouakb and Comob.

Streptopelia semitorquata Red-eyed Dove R B . Abundant in all humid

savannas and farmlands. Decreases north of 8°N and becomes more and more

local north of 9°N (around forests) .

Streptopelia vinacea Vinaceous Dove R B . An abundant savanna species

of northern guinea and Sudan zones. South to Bouakb.

Streptopelia senegalensis Laughing Dove R B . Common in every town

and surrounding farmlands.

Oena capensis Masked Itove A M ? Uncommon. Today more frequent in

northern savannas, than in the 19G0s and early 1970s, south to Bouakb.

So far recorded only in the dry season but may happen to breed.

Turtur ( Tympanistria ) tympanistria Tambourine Dove R B . Common

throughout the forest zone. Enters the aallery forests north to T'orhogo

and Comob.

Turtur afer Blue-spotted Wood Dove P B . Common. Secondary forest

humid savanna woodlands, farmlands and gallery forests. Progressive y

replaced by T. abyssinicus north of 8°N, but reaches the northern border

small woods.

in

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 Comob.

Aplopelia larvata Lemon Dove Known from the Guinean (Brosset and

Liberian (FW) 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 9°N. 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 (Comod) .

Poicephalus gulielmi Red-crowned Parrot R B . Rare and local in

primary forest (Tai, Tiassale, Oumd) .

Poicephalus senegalus Senegal Parrot R B . Common in all types of

savannas (South to Abidjan) .

Psittacus erithacus Grey Parrot R B . Common throughout the forest

zone, but only south of 8^. There is no gap between the 2 subspecies

erithacus arid timneh supposed to come in contact alone the Bandama river.

Psittacula krameri Rose-winged Parakeet R B . Increasingly common

north of 9°N. Rarely reaches Bouake and even Toumodi. A well known

population in Abidjan-Grand Bassam may be introduced or relict.

Agapomis pullaria Red-headed Lovebird R B ? Only known from the

Boundiali-Tingrela area (Pedant) .

Agapomis swinderniana Black— collared Lovebird R B ? Seen twice in

Tai. May also be on Nimba.

MUSOPHAGIDAE

Corythaeola cristata Great Blue Turaco P. B . Formerly common all over

the forest zone, north to Odiennd, Korhogo and Comod. Now much reduced by

intensive huntina pressure.

Crinifer piscator Grey Turaco R B . Common savanna species throughout,

including dry secondary growth on sandy coastal dunes.

Tauracc (Turacus) persa Guinea Turaco Pv B . Common in every dense

forests and galleries north to 10°N. Respective ranees of races persa and

buffoni (Bannerman) not defined.

Tauraco ( Turacus ) macrorhynchus Verreaux's Turaco R B . Widespread

(Tai and Abidjan to Nimba, Sipilou, Lamto and Comoe) , but more local than

T. persa.

Musophaga violacea Violet Turaco R R . Northern edue of the forest

zone (Lamto, Sipilou, Agnibilekrou) through the gallery forests of all

northern Ivory Coast. Collected in the coastal belt (BMH) .

CUCULIDAE

Clamator glandar ius Great Spotted Cuckoo A (or P ?) MB . Restricted

to the northern savannas in the 1960-70s. Now frequent south to Lamto. So

far not recorded in the rainy season.

Clamator jacobinus Pied Crested Cuckoo A V ? 3 records Feb-Apr,

M'Bingue and Comod.

26

Clamator levaillantii Striped Cuckoo A M (or R ?) B . _ Commonly 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 Comob.

Cuculus alamo sus 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 (canorus) gularis Grey Cuckoo A M B ? Coninon 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

miarant documented by a specimen (Lamto, Feb) .

Pachycoccyx audeberti (validis) Thick-billed Cuckoo P B • Not imcommon

in southern Guinea savanna (several pairs on the 2,700 ha reserve of Lamto) .

Also occurs south to Ta'i and north to Comob, mainly on forest edges.

Cercococcyx mechowi Dusky Iona-tailed Cuckoo R B . Scarce. Slightly

more widespread than olivinus (Ta'i, Nimba to Azagny and Lamto) .

Cercococcyx olivinius Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo R B . Rare. Primary

forest of Ta'i and Nimba.

Chrysococcyx flavigularis Yellow- throated Cuckoo^ R B . ^Identified

only in the southern primary forest (Ayamb to Abidjan and Ta'i) .

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 . Everywhere (coast to

Odienne and Comoe) in large clearings, forest edges, open woodlands and

gallery forests, mainly in the dry season (very few observations m June

Sep, except north of 9°N) when it could breed (songs) earlier than t e

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 breedina (singing) .

Centropus leucogaster Black-throated Coucal R B . Rather common

throughout the forest, north to Odiennb, Korhogo and Comob.

Centropus monachus Blue-headed Coucal R B . Favours high grass of

humid or swampy areas. Status and distribution imperfectly known, due to

confusion with C. senegalensis . Both north and south of the country.

27

Centropus senegalensis Senegal Coucal R B . Common in all open grassy

habitats. Melanie form " epomidis " seen in both north and south.

Centropus grillii Black Coucal R B . Locally in coastal as well as

northern high rank errass areas. Some seasonal movements (not clear).

Ceuthmochares aereus Yellowbill R B . Throughout the forest zone,

including northern galleries. Common.

STRIGIDAE

Tyto alba Barn 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 Bouakd and

Lamto (Jan-Mar) .

Otus (scops) senegalensis African Scops Owl R B . Common throughout

wooded errassy habitats, including some farmlands of the semi -deciduous

forest zone. Rare in coastal areas.

Otus icterorhynchus Cinnamon Scops Owl P B . Tape recorded in Tai and

Nimba (Chappuis) .

Otus leucotis White-faced Owl R b . Widely distributed through all

Guinea and Sudan savannas from Toumodi northwards. Often occurs in town

parks and Hardens . An unexpected sinhtinn in a coastal inundated savanna

(Azagny, June) .

Juhula ( Lophostrix ) lettii Maned Owl R B . So far only known from Tai.

Suspected at Lamto (Chappuis) .

Bubo africanus Spotted Facie Owl R B . The common eagle owl over all

the savannas north of the forest (includincr 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 Maraoud ) .

Bubo shelley i Shelley's Eagle Owl P 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 Maraoud.

Scotopelia peli Pel's Fishing Owl R B . Known from no less than 19

localities from, coastal lagoons (Dabou, Azaony) to medium size (Tai) and

larqe (Bandama, Comod) forested rivers, north to at least 9°30.

Scotopelia ussheri Ussher's Fishing Owl R B . So far identified from

Tai, Azacrny, Lamto and Nimba. The suspected existence of s. bouvieri ,

mainly from calls similar to records from Gabon (I_,amto, Comod) needs to be

substantiated by a specimen.

28

strix woodfordi African Wood Owl RB. The commonest forest owl every-

where.

Glaucidium perlatum Pearl-spotted Owlet R B . Increasingly frequent

in northern savannas and suburban gardens , from Bouakd northwards .

Glaucidium capense etchecopari Barred Owlet RB. Discovered in Lamto,

this new subspecies (first thought to be a distinct species closer o

castaneum than capense) has teen found in 17 dense primary or mainly

secondarv forests south to Banco, Azagny and Tai, west to Nimba and north

to Maraoud and Comod. 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) .

CAPRIMULGIDAE

Caprimulgus binotatus or C. pectoralis Brown or Dusky Nightjar . Dark

nightjars have teen seen several times on tracks within dense rain ores ,

but none has ever teen collected. They may eventually prove to be one o

the above species.

Caprimulgus ruf icollis Red-necked Nightjar

(Jan, Parelius) and Boundiali (Nov, Ledant) .

European Nightjar P

P M

M

Collected near Ratio Is

Collected near Korhogo

Caprimulgus europaeus

(Feb) .

Caprimulgus natalensis Natal Nightjar RB? 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-

Mav) visitor in all savannas (from Korhoao to the coast) . Mostly c. i.

inornatus f but C. i. vinaceabrunneus has also teen found (Lamto, M Bmgue) .

Caprimulgus tristigma Freckled Nightjar R ? B ? Common in northern

rocky areas (Niangbo, Comod, Korhogo, Boundiali) .

Caprimulgus fossii Gaboon Niahtjar AM? Found dead m Comod and

Korhogo (Feb-Apr: the only West African records) .

Caprimulgus ( Scotornis ) climacurus long-tailed Nightjar A M B . Very

abundant throughout the savannas. South of 7°N they axe found from Nov

May and do not seem to breed, but north of 8°N very small numbers remain

between June and Oct and may breed (enlarged, ovaries in Mar May) .

Macrodipteryx long ipennis Standard— winged Nightjar A M • ^jv^s

abundant than c. climacurus but similarly widespread from the coast to

10°N outside the forest and disappears between June and Oct. Bree s

everywhere 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 M . Several records (flocks of 5 to 40) in

Oct, Dec, Mar and Apr (Nimba to Lamto and Canoe) .

Apus aeguatorialis Mottled Swift A V ? Most certainly identified at

Nimba (Apr) and Comoe (July). Other possible siehtings.

Apus caffer African White-rumped Swift R B ? Few scattered records

(Bouake, Korhoeo, Feb-June) . May be overlooked amone other swifts.

Apus af finis Little Swift R B . Large breeding colonies in every

town and under larcre bridges.

Apus batesi Black Swift R B ? Identified several times above the

primary forest of Tai and Nimba, but a specimen would bring more certainty

about its actual identity.

Cypsiurus parvus African Palm Swift R B . Common wherever there are

Borassus or Coconut palms.

Chaetura sabini Sabine's Spinetail R B . The most frequent forest

Chaetura: Ayamd to San Pedro, Man, Sipilou and Daloa.

Chaetura ussheri Mottled 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, Oumd. Uncommon. Mainly, if not only, above primary

forest.

Chaetura cassini Cassin's Spinetail R B . 31 records from Ayame to

Tai north to Damane, Duekue, Oume, Dimbokro.

TROGGNIDAE

Apaloderma narina Narina Trogon R B . Well distributed over all the

forest zone, north to Korhogo and Comod.

ALCFDINIDAE

Ceryle maxima Giant Kingfisher R B . Isolated pairs all alone the

large rivers , lagoons and even lakes .

Ceryle rudis Pied Kingfisher R B . locally common on some coastal

marshes and lagoons (Azagny, Assinie) and parts of northern rivers and

lakes (Korhogo, Comod) , but lacking in many apparently suitable areas.

Alcedo guadribrachys Shining Blue Kincrfisher P B . Uncommon but

widespread alone the forested banks of all running or still waters.

Alcedo ( Corythornis ) cristata 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 White— bellied Kingfisher R B .

Secretive. Taken in mist-nests from 11 primary or high secondary forests

(Lamto to Tai, Danane, Nimba and Daloa) .

30

Ispidina (Ceyx) picta Pyamy Kinafisher R B The commonest forest

Kingfisher (from net-captures) throughout the forest zone, north to . 30 .

Ispidina (Ceyx) lecontei Bed-headed Dward Kingfisher R B . Quite rare

in mostly primary forest (Lamto, Gagnoa, Ta'i, Nimba) .

Halcyon senegalensis Woodland (Senegal) Kinafisher . p B • Common every-

where and 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. fuscop ileus) 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 P B . Only found m heavy

forest from Ayame to Bondoukou, Lamto, Tai and Nimba.

Halcyon leucocephala Grey-headed. Kingfisher A M . Widespread in

Guinea savanna during the dry season (south to Lamto) , but only north o

9°N from June to Oct.

Halcyon cbelicutl Striped Kingfisher R B . Coimcn and sedentary in

every kind of savanna, south to the coast.

MFROPIDAE

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 (pensions) Blue-cheeked Bee-eater A (?) V . Par-

dry season vagrant north of 90N (Korhoao, Comob) , except once at Toumodi.

Merops orientalis Little Green Bee-eater P B ? Small numbers in Sudan

belt only. Very few durina the rains.

Merops malimbicus Rosy Bee-eater A V . Scarce. Small flocks

(Abengourou, Nov; Ayamb, Jan) .

Merops nubicus Carmine Bee-eater A M . Coirmon dry season visitor (Nov-

Apr) north of 8°N, rarely south to Toumodi.

Merops albicollis White-throated Bee-eater A M . Abundant from Sep to

May all over the forest zone, but local in northern Guinea savanna (aroun

forest edges) . Flocks of migrants even fly over the top of Mt Nimba m

Apr.

Merops pusillus Little Bee-eater R B . Widely distributed, sedentary

pairs in natural or secondary open grasslands, throughout.

Merops bulocki Fed-throated Bee-eater R B . Sparsely distributed,

dry season, breeding colonies in northern Guinea belt. More numerous in

the Comob 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 qaps, throughout the humid forest zone, north to Nimba,

Sipilou, Daloa, Bongouanou. Usually in pairs.

Merops muelleri Blue-headed Bee-eater R B . Pare primary forest bird

(Ta'i, Nimba, N'Douci) .

Merops hirundineus Swallow-tailed Bee-eater R (A M) B . Widespread,

usually in pairs, throuqh 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.

COPACIIDAE

Coracias abyssinica Abyssinian Poller A M B Common north of 8°N in

the dry season (small numbers south to Lamto) . Very rare, north of 9°N

from mid June to early Sep.

Coracias garrulus Fhropean Roller P M . Regular dry season visitor.

36 records between 8° and 10°N (mainly Comod) . 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 larae cultivated clearings of the forest zone.

Coracias naevia Rufous -crowned Roller A M B . Dry season breeding

pairs throughout the savannas north of the forest (including Lamto) .

More numerous than abyssinica south of 8°N where, like abyssinicus , it has

markedly increased during recent (dry) years. Absent from June to Sep

south of 9°N and rare north of this limit.

Eurystomus glaucurus ( afer ) Broad-billed Roller A M B . Abundant

throughout the humid savannas (including coastal area and larae forest

clearings) from Oct to May. Quickly decreases northwards, reaching 10°N.

Disappears from its southern range during the rains (mid-June to early

Sep) , when only small numbers remain north of 8°N.

Eurystomus gularis Blue— throated Roller R B . The forest counterpart

of E. glaucurus from coast to Touba and Como£. Restricted to forest edges,

gaps , riverbanks and emergent trees above the canopy . Does not increase

very much in large clearings which are more often colonized by glaucurus .

UPUPIDAE

Upupa epops Hoopoe A and PM (R ?) B . Widespread in Nov-May north of

Bouak£. Only 4 sightings in June-Sep. Most of identified birds clearly

belong to African u. e. senegalensis , but some other well fit the descrip-

tion of the Palearctic u. e. epops.

PHOENICtJLIDAE

Phoeniculus purpureus Seneaal Wood— Hoopoe R B . Especially common in

Borassus palm savanna (including Dabou in the 1960s) . More and more local

from 8° to 10°N.

32

Phoenicul us bollei Buff-headed Wood-Hoopoe R B . All over the forest

zone, but more often seen along its northern limit and larue gallery forests

(Sipilou to Maraou4 , Eouakd and Comod) .

Phoeniculus castaneiceps Forest Wood-Hoopoe R B . More restricted to

high dense rain forest than Ph. bollei, in pairs instead of social croups,

but also reaches the northern aalleries (Sipilou to Comod) .

Phoeniculus aterrimus Lesser Wood-Hoopoe R B . Northern dry savanna;

increasincrly frequent from Bouak6 to ICMM.

BUCEROTIDAE

Bycanistes cylindricus Brown-cheeked Hornbill P B . The commonest

large forest hornbill in primary or high secondary forest from the coast

to Sipilou and Comod. Sometimes concentrations in fruiting trees of up to

90 birds.

Bycanistes subcylindricus Black-and-white— casqued Hornbill P B . Mien

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 Ferkessddouaou .

Bycanistes f istulator Piping Hornbill P B . Abundant throughout the

forest zone. Increases in the northern galleries (Comod) during the wet

season .

Ceratogymna elata Yellow-casqued Hornbill 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 Hornbill R B . Restricted to humid,

dense, undisturbed forest, not extending as far north as c. elata. Former!

common from Abidjan and Tal to Sipilou and Marou4. Now much reduced by

hunting and primary forest destruction.

Tropicranus albocristatus White-crested Hornbill R B . Common through

out the forest underarowth north to 9°30.

Tockus nasutus Grey Hornbill A M B . Abundant all over the zone from

Sep to June. Rare in July-Aug (when found in only the northern half of the

country) .

Tockus fasciatus Pied Hornbill R B . The most abundant hornbill

throughout the forest zone, including northern galleries. Reaches 10°N

(north of Odienne) .

Tockus erythrorhynchus Red- beaked Hornbill A V . Only 2 records (Feb-

Mar) in extreme north (M'Bingue, Ouangolodoucou) .

Tockus camurus Red— billed Dwarf Hornbill P B . Widespread in every

hiah humid forest from the coast to Sipilou, Korhogo and Como4.

Tockus hartlaubi Black Dwarf Hornbill R B . As widespread as T.

camurus, but less common, more local and secretive.

33

Bucorvus abyssinicus Ground Hombill P. B . Now scarce in northern

savannas outside reserves (formerly south to Beoumi) . May be more than

50-100 pairs in Comod.

CAPITQNIDAE

Lybius dubius Bearded Parbet R B . Northern Guinea savanna woodland

south to Bouakd 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 B . Common in

every secondary or gallery forest and plantations, north to Touba and

Comod.

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°N.

Gymnobucco peli Bristle-nosed Barbet R B . Ranges from the coast (local)

to Odiennd and Comod.

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 gallery forest and plantations)

to Comod.

Pogoniulus chrysoconus Yellow-fronted Tinker-bird P B . A sudanian

savanna species ranging south to Bouakd 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 subsulphur eus Yellow-throated Tinker-bird R B . Distribution,

habitat, morphology and sonc surprisingly similar to those of P . leucolaima ,

with which it overlaps over most of its range.

Pogoniulus atroflavus Red-rumped Tinker-bird R B . Primary and

secondary forest from Abidjan to Sipilou, Ta'i and Maraoud.

Trachyphonus ( Trachylaemus ) purpuratus Yellow-billed Barbet R B .

Restricted to more primary than secondary forest; Abidjan to San Pedro,

Nimba, Bouafld, Lamto.

INDICATORIDAE

Indicator indicator Greater Honeyguide R B . Sparsely distributed

throughout the savanna zone north of the forest, including Lamto.

34

Indicator minor lesser Honeyguide R B . Inconspicuous and nowhere

abundant as other Honeyguides. Gallery and secondary forests, savanna

woodlands . Lamto and Reoumi to Niinba and Comod.

Indicator maculatus 4 Spotted Honeyquide P R

Lamto to Poron and Comod.

Indicator exilis Least Honeyquide F B

Forest edges and gallery .

Indicator willcocksi Willcocks's Honeyguide P B

Lamto . Fare .

Forest from Ta'i and

Lamto, Soubrb, Niinba.

Tai to Sipilou and

Melichneutes robustus Lyre-tailed Honeyguide P B . In spite of its

loud display, known only from Tai and Nimba (Chappuis) . Primary forest.

Melignomon eisentrauti Eisentraut's Honeyouide. P B ? Collected on

Liberian side of Mt Nimba (Hi) . Suspected in Tai from unconfirmed siohtmg,

Prodotiscus insignis Cassin's Honeyouide R B . Tai to Gaonoa, Lamto,

Reoumi, Poron and Comod. Fdges et qallery forests.

Prodotiscus regulus Brown-backed Honeyouide P B

(Liberia, FW) .

Collected on Nimba

PICIDAE

Junx torquilla European Wryneck

Also Korhogo and Comod.

P Pi

Reaular at Lamto (Nov-Mar) .

t • Tp -? y-. ^ „ 0 tva +- +■ pH WnoHoPPkei p B . All the S9.V321T13-S

Campethera punctuligera Fine-spotted, tooapec^ex

north of the forest. Rare south of Rouakd (to Lamto) .

Campethera maculosa - Colden backed Woodpecker P B

Abidjan and Tai to Lamto, Reoumi, Nimba and Sipilou.

The forest zone from

campethera nivosa Buff-spotted woodpecker PR. JVame to A^uand

Tai, north to Sipilou, Korhogo and Comod. Dense underorowth of primary and

secondary forests.

Campethera caroli Rrown-eared. Woodpecker p R ; mre a forest

snecies than most other woodpeckers. Ayame to Tai, Lamto and Sipi on.

Dendropicos fuscescens Cardinal Woodpecker F R . Irrenularly

distributed through Guinea woodlands (Lamto to Comoe) . Also forest edaes

Dendropicos gabonensis ( lugubris ) Gabon Woodpecker p R

scattered through the forest zone, north to Comod.

18 localities

Dendropicos ( Dendrocopos ) obsoletus Brown-backed Woodpecker F 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 pyrrhogaster Fire-bellied Woodpecker R B The commonest and

most uniformly distributed woodpecker m all types of forests, from

coast to Korhogo and Comod .

35

EURYLAEMIDAE

mithomis capensis Delacour's Broadbill R B . Undergrowth of primary

nd secondary forests of Ta’i, Nimba to Lamto and Beoumi.

■mithomis rufolateralis Rufous-sided Broadbill R B . Somewhat more

ocal and more restricted to hiqh primary forest than capensis. Ta'i,

imba, Oumd.

PITTIDAE

itta angolensis Blue-wincred Pitta (Anaola Pitta) R B . Forest floor

f Lamto, Danane, Maraoue and Ta’i. Uncommon.

ALAUDIDAE

irafra rufocinnamomea (huckleyi) Flappet Lark (Buckley's Bush Lark)

B . Regular in dry, open savanna, both southern and northern caiinea and

ven coastal sandy areas (Dabou, Grand Bassam) .

irafra africana Rufous-naped Bush Lark R B . Montane grassland on

op of Mt Nimba.

irafra nigricans Dusky Lark P B . From Bouake— Beoumi (only in the

ry season) at least to Ferkessddougou and Corrod. Local.

'remopterix leucotis Chestnut-backed Finch-Lark A V ? Recently

ecorded near Korhogo (Nov, Ledant) . One more example of southward

xtending rancre of sudanian species with increasing dryness.

'alerida (Heliocorgs) modesta Sun Lark R B . Dry, often rocky savanna

rom Comod to Boundiali.

HIPITNDINIDAE

iparia cincta Banded Sand-martin A V .

3 records (Comod, Mar to July).

iparia r iparia European Sand-martin P M . Only 8 records on lavoons

Abidjan) , lake (Kossou) and river (Comod) . Nov-Apr.

irundo nigrita White- throated Blue Swallow R B . Common all along

he major rivers with forested banks. Also lagoons.

'irundo smithii Wire— tailed Swallow P B ? On rivers in the northern

tinea belt. Local (Beoumi to Odiennd and Comod) . Also southern lakes

Yamoussoukro, Ayamd) .

'irundo aethiopica Ethiopian Swallow R B . Very local (Katiola ,

'erkessddougou) . May have been overlooked.

'irundo lucida Red— chested Swallow R B . Often breeding in villages,

rom Lamto to 1 0°N .

irundo rustica European Swallow P M . Very abundant mostly in central

nd southern Ivory Coast (even in towns) where it largely outnumbers local

wallows. Sep to Apr, but some remain through the wet season. 13

ecoveries of birds rinaed in France, Belgium and Germany.

36

Hirundo leucosoma Pied-winged Swallow RB. Seen in small numbers

from Beoumi to Odienne and Comae. Breeds m Bouake and near Korhouo.

Hirundo daurica (rufula) Red-rumped Swallow R B Often in associatior

with other species. More than 30 localities from 7 30 to 1

Hirundo senegalensis Masque Swallow P B . Identified only in some

villages north of 9°N, but cited from coast (BMH, confused with the

following ?) .

Hirundo semirufa Rufous -chested Swallow R B . _ The commonest breeding

swallow throuahout the forest zone, but seen occasionally north to 10°N.

Hirundo abyssinica Lesser Striped Swallow R B . Knom 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 (Nimba, Man, Odiennd) .

Hirundo spilodera ( Lecythoplastes preussi) Preuss' Cliff Swallow PB

Locally common (near Korhogo, south of linarela) .

Hirundo griseopyga Grey-rumped Swallow A V ? A single individual

recocmized (Como£, Mar) .

Deli chon urbica European House Martin P M . Seen a dozen tunes in

Oct-Nov and Mar-Apr, always high over the northern savannas (including

Lamto) . May be only a passage miarant.

Psalidoprocne nitens Square-tailed Roughwing Swallow ^ * ^ess

numerous , more local and restricted to the forest tone than Pobscura

Nests found in July near Abidjan (sea level) and Man (It Toukmi, , -

Recorded north to Comoe in July.

Psalidoprocne obscura Fanti Rough-winged Swallow RB . Conrnon from

Oct to May south of 7°30. Becomes rarer in the south during the ram

invade all the Guinea zone.

MOTACILLI DAE

Anthus campestris Tawny Pipit

north of Ferkessddougou.

P M

Recognized at least once (Feb) ,

Anthus cervinus Red-throated Pipit P M . Rather frequent in Guinea

savanna from Lamto to Ferkessddougou (Nov-Mar) .

Anthus leucophrys Plain-backed Pipit P B . widespread throughout the

country in shortgrass, treeless areas (often man made) .

Anthus novaeseelandiae (richardi) Richard's Pipit P V ? S^eral KJ

pipits well fitting this species' description (including call)

(Comoe) . Would be better confirmed by a capture.

Anthus similis (bannermani) long-billed Pipit P B ? Not rare on

montane grassland of top of Mt Nimba.

Anthus trivialis Tree Pipit PM. Very abundant in a11 savannas

north of the forest (Oct-Apr) , sometimes south to Abidgan. Usually sma

groups of 3 to 10. One recovery from Belgium.

37

Motacilla flava Yellow Wagtail P M . Very common 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, Randama 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.

LANIIDAE

Prionops plumata Helmet Shrike RE. A widespread northern guinea

savanna species, now regularly found south to Lamto where it was unknown up

to the 1970s.

Prionops ( Sigmodus ) caniceps Chestnut-bellied Helmet— shrike R B .

Common all over the forest belt (Azagny and Tai to Sipilou and Comob) .

Nilaus afer Brubru Shrike R R . Local in northern guinea savanna

zone, south to Beoumi.

Dryoscopus gambensis Gambian Puffback Shrike R B . Common over all

the savanna woodlands and northern galleries, now colonizinc? forest edcres

and plantations south to Nimba, Ta’i and Abidjan.

Drgoscopus ( Chaunonotus ) sabini Sabine's Puffback Shrike R B . Known

from 8 high, almost primary, forest localities (Tal and Ayamb to Lamto and

Daloa) .

Tchagra australis Brown-headed Tchagra R B . All over the country in

secondary bush and forest edges. Commoner than senegala in the forest

zone, becomes local and increasingly rare in northern guinea zone (hardly

reaches 10°N) where it avoids pure savanna.

Tchagra senegala Black-headed Tchagra R B . Much commoner 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 Maraoue.

Laniarius barbarus Barbary Shrike R B . Common in dense woodlands

north of Bouake, much rarer in the southern guinea belt but again common

in the dry bushy areas along the coast (Azagny to Assini) .

Laniarius ferrugineus Bell Shrike R B . Common in gallery— savanna

mosaic and woodlands of all the cruinea zone north of 7°N (rare south to

Lamto and even Abidjan) .

Laniarius leucorhynchus Black Boubou Shrike R B . Not uncommon in

dense low secondary growth from the coastal zone, north to Lamto and Beoumi.

38

Malaconotus ( Chlorophoneus ) sulfureopectus Orange-breasted Rush Shrike

p b . Often heard in Guinea woodlands from Toumodi to lOuNf.

Malaconotus (chlorophoneus) multicolor Many-coloured Bush Shrike R B .

Primary forest canopy of Lamto to Ninba, Tai, Maraoub and Como..

Malaconotus cruentus Fiery-breasted Rush Shrike p R ; Widespread

(Abidjan to Bouake and Maraoue) and even common (Danane Nimba Tai area)

canopy of primary or high secondary forests.

Malaconotus lagdeni Lagden’s Bush Shrike RB . Very rare. Only

identified with certainty in Tai. Also cited from Nimba (EW) .

Malaconotus blanchoti Grey-headed Bush Shrike RB . _Kn°Yn ^°m 9

localities in northern savanna woodlands (from Bouakd to Comob and

Odiennb) .

Lanius collaris Fiscal Shrike R B . Common in some urban gardens

and suburban areas (e.g. Abidjan), but usually very local m farmlands,

recently burnt or overcrrazed savannas, north to 9 3U 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 Bouakd. Several dry season records

south to Toumodi.

ORIOLIDAE

Oriolus oriolus European Golden Oriole P V .

gallery forest (Lamto, Oct) .

A male collected in a

Oriolus auratus African Golden Oriole RB. A common savanna species

north of 8°N. Seen south to Toumodi at least from Jan to May.

Oriolus brachyrhynchus 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-winaed Oriole R B Gurprisingly synpatric

with the similar 0. brachyrhynchus. As a whole, it is more abun

the latter in high canopy, primary forest and southern humid forest zone.

DICRURIDAE

Dicrurus adsimilis Glossy-backed Drongo RB.

or derived savannas and many secondary open habitats down l.o the coas .

Dicrurus atripennis Shining Drongo R B . Of regular occurrence in

high forest, locally north to 9°30 N.

Dicrurus ludwigii (sharper) Square-tailed Dronao R B Commoner than

atripennis in most forests, especially secondary and nailery forests, also

edges and small woods. From the coast to Korhogo.

39

STUM I DAE

Poeoptera lugubris Narrow-tailed Starlinq R R . Ayame to San Pedro,

Abengourou , Lamto and Man. Often associated with breedinq colonies of

Gymnobucco .

Onychognathus morio Craq Chestnut-winaed Starlinq R R . Found

breedinq (Parelius) in some rocky outcrops of the Korhoqo-Roundiali area.

Onychognathus fulgidus Forest Chestnut-winqed Starlinq P (?) R .

Inhabits mainly natural humid savannas (preferably with Borassus palms)

both north (Lamto to Sipilou, Maraoud and Comod) and south (Dabou to

Sassandra) of the forest zone. Seasonal movements (nearly disappears from

Lamto in July-Sep) .

Lamprotornis ( Lamprocolius ) purpureiceps Velvet— headed Glossy Starlinq

R P ? One collected (Sipilou, Apr) . A crroup siqhted in Ta'i.

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 Maraoud. Ill defined local movements.

Lamprotornis (Lamprocolius ) purpureus Purple Glossy Starlinq R B .

Reqular across the northern quinea belt, rarely south to Toumodi in the

dry season (seasonal movements) .

Lamprotornis (Lamprocolius ) chloropterus Lesser Blue— eared Glossy Starlinq

R R . The commonest Glossy Starlinq from 7 to 9°N (Toumodi to Odiennd) .

More often in pairs than in flocks. A northward shift durinq the rains.

Lamprotornis (Lamprocolius ) chalcurus Short— tailed Glossy Starlinq R B .

Sympatric 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 Starlinq A M ?

Rare, north of 9°N durinq the dry season (only ?) . Status unclear.

Lamprotornis caudatus Lonq-tailed Glossy Starlinq A V ? The rarest

and most northern Glossy Starlina (4 dry season records north of 9°30) .

Lamprotornis ( Coccycolius ) iris Emerald Starlinq p R ? Known only

from a narrow belt in the central quinea zone (Dabakala, Rouakd , Beoumi,

Touba) .

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster Amethyst Starlina AMR. Abundant every-

where in most months but with marked miaratory movements (invo Ivina thousands

birds) . Numbers peak in the coastal zone from Nov to Mar with lowest levels

in May- June. In southern guinea savanna, they are always 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°N but they

stronqly increase in June-Auq, which confirms the northward movement durinq

the rains.

Spreo pulcher Chestnut-bellied Starlinq A V ? 2 extreme northern dry

season records ( Quango lodouqou, M'Ringud) .

40

Buphagus africanus Yellow-billed Oxpecker R B . Small numbers on

Buffaloes and Foan Antelopes in Comod and Maraoud , and sometimes on domes

cattle in the northern savannas, but never more than 3 5 birds at a .

It is absent from the most southern savanna, at least now, especially r m

Lamto where a small herd of Buffaloes still exists. An apparently

undescribed small oxpecker has been seen on buffaloes m _ the undergrowth

of Tai forest. It may well disappear with its host species before bemq

known.

CORVIDAE

Ptilostomus afer Black Magpie

to Bouake, BMH) .

Corvus albus Pied Crow F B .

r b . Uncommon. North of 8° 30 (south

Abundant in all open habitats.

PICATHARTIDAE

Picathartes gymnocephalus Guinea Bare-headed Pockfowl F B . So far

found breeding only on Mt Nimba (eggs, Apr) . Vagrants seen in gal ery

forest of Lamto lacking suitable rocks (Aug-Sep, Prendergast) .

CAMPEPHAGIDAE

Coracina pectoralis White-breasted Cuckoo shrike,

found north of 9°N, but Iowe collected it at Beoumi.

wet season (northward movement ?) .

P B ? Recently only

Seems rarer in the

Coracina azurea Blue Cuckoo-shrike P B . local in high dense forest

(San Pedro to Nimba, Gagnoa and Lamto) .

Campephaga quiscallna Purple-throated Cuckoo-shrike BB. Uncommon in

dense forest (Azagny, Tai, Nimba, Lamto, Maraoud, Bouake).

Campephaga phoenicea Fed-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike R B . Frequent in

gallery forests and small woods in all the guinea zone.

Campephaga lobata Wattled Cuckoo-shrike R B ? Seen 2 times in Tai's

primary forest. Cited from Nimba (FW) .

PYCNONOTIDAE

Pycnonotus barbatus Common Bulbul R B . Very abundant everywhere

outside the forest.

Andropadus curvirostris Sombre Bulbul R B . Seen, mistnetted or tape

recorded from 24 localities through the forest zone (north to Sipilou and

Maraoud) .

Andropadus gracilis ( ansorgei ) Little Grey Bulbul * Occurs in

secondary as well as primary forest, from the coast to Sipilou, Bouak<$ and

nabakala! The available information and specimens do not yet support the

existence of 2 distinct species ( gracilis and ansorgei ) .

Andropadus gracilirostris Slender-billed Bulbul

frequent as (and often sympatric with) gracilis,

north to Man , Gagnoa and Lamto .

p. R . Nearly as

but so far only reported

41

Andropadus virens Little Greenbul R B . Very abundant in all types

of secondary and gallery forests north to 10°N.

Andropadus latirostris Yellow-whiskered Greenbul R B . Equally

abundant and widespread but more in primary undergrowth where it is usually

the dominant species.

Calyptoc ichla serina Golden Bulbul R B . Local in the forest zone

(Ta'i to Dan and, Man, Lamto and Abengourou) .

Baepogon indicator White- tailed Greenbul R B . Chiefly in second

growth, secondary forest and edges, from the coast to Sipilou, Korhogo and

Comod. Moderately common.

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°N.

Thesceloci chi a leucopleura White-tailed Brownbul (Swamp Palm Bulbul)

R B . Abundant in every forest with oil or Raphia palms, chiefly near

water, up to 9°20 N.

Phyllastrephus (Pyrrhurus ) scandens Leaf -love R B . Local throughout

the forest zone. Becomes commoner in nailery forest of the guinea zone,

north to Korhouo.

Phyllastrephus baumanni Baumann's Greenbul R B . Collected, in Tai

(Chappuis) and Beoumi (Lowe) . Also observed from San Pedro (Veitkowitz ) to

Nimba and Lamto. Pare, primary forest.

Phyllastrephus icterinus Icterine Greenbul P B . The commonest

Phyllastrephus all over the forest zone, north to Sipilou and Comod.

Phyllastrephus albigularis T7hite- throated Greenbul R B . Mainly primary

forest undergrowth from Abidjan and San Pedro to Mt Nimba and Maraoud.

Bleda syndactyla Bristle-bill P B . Frequent in the forest zone south

of 7°N.

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 P B . Common in all

the not too dense forest understory from the coast to 9°30.

Criniger (Trichophorus) calurus White— bearded Bulbul R B . Much more

local than T . barbatus. Does not extend (?) beyond Nimba, Maraoud and

Abengourou .

42

Criniger (Trichophorus ) olivaceus Yellow- throated Olive Greenbul P B ?

Mistnetted in Tai primary forest.

Nicator chloris West African Nicator P B . All the forest and southern

guinea zone, north to gallery forest of Comod (9^) .

tupdidae

Saxicola torquata Stonechat R B . Atundant on the summit 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 Wheatear PM. 3 records (Ferkessddougou and Comod,

Jan-Mar) .

Oenanthe bottae Fed-breasted Chat AM? At least one good sighting on

a recently burnt savanna (Ouangolodougou, Feb) .

cercomela familiaris Fed-tailed Chat R B ? Occurs on several northern

inselbergs (Nianabo, Korhogo, Boundiali, south of Odienne) .

Myrmecoci chla cinnamomeiventris White-crowned Cliff Chat P B . On

rocky hills and small cliffs near Touba and Boundiali.

Myrmecocichla (Pentholaea) albifrons White-fronted Black Chat

Usually sparse in guinea vroodlands (rarely south to Toumodi) bu

commoner (Sipilou, Odiennd) .

R B .

locally

M onticola saxatilis Fock-Thrush PM. One record east of Ferkessedougot

(Mar) . Seen on Mt Nimba (Brosset) .

Monticola solitaria Blue Rock-Thrush P V ? Cited from Mt Nimba (BW> •

Phoenicurus phoenicurus Pedstart P M . Small numkers throughout the

guinea zone (Oct-Mar) . Once near Abidjan.

Cercotrichas ( Erytrhopygia ) leucosticta

Not rare in primary forest undergrowth

and Maraoue.

Gold Coast Scrub Pobin

from Abidjan to Tai, Nimba,

P P .

Lamto

Alethe diademata (castanea) Fire-crest Alethe P B . Common. All

the forest zone, north to Korhogo.

Alethe poliocephala Brown-chested Alethe E B . Less common than A.

diademata. North to Comod and Sipilou. Up to 1,600 m in montane forest on

Nimba.

Sheppardia cgornithopsis Whiskered Redbreast Akalat R B

(Tai, Danand, Nimba).

15 records

stiphrornis erythrothorax Forest-robin R B . Unconspicuous but wide'

spread in primary forest undergrowth north to Sipilou and Maraoue.

Cossgpha polioptera

Nimba and Tonkui from

White -browed Robin-chat P B . Abundant on Mt

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 White-crowned Robin-chat R B . Chiefly northern

cruinea and sub-sudan zone in dense woodland. Rare south of 8°N (reaches

Toumodi) .

Cossypha niveicapilla Snowy-headed Robin-chat R B . Second crrowth,

edces and aallery forest, locally alone the coast, commonly throucrh southern

guinea zone, and increasingly local north of 8°N.

Neocossyphus poensis White-tailed Ant-thrush R B . Rather common

throughout the forest zone, north to Comod and Sipilou.

Neocossyphus ( Stizorhina) finschi Finsch's Rusty Flycatcher R B . More

restricted distribution and lower abundance than N. poensis . Abidjan to

Tai, Sipilou, Gagnoa, Abengourou.

Luscinia megarhynchos Nightingale P M . Common Oct-Apr in wardens and

secondary vecretation from Abidjan to Korhooo and Nimba. Begins to sine 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-thrush R B . Primary forest

under story, from Abidjan and Ta'i to Nimba, Lamto and Como£.

TIMALIIDAE

Trichastoma ( Malacocincla ) fulvescens Brown Illadopsis (Akalat) R B .

Mistnetted in Ta'i, Bouak<f, Como£. 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, Bouak<f.

Trichastoma (Malacocincla) rufescens Rufous -winced Illadopsis (Akalat).

Lamto, Ta’i, Nimba. Suspected at 4 other places.

Trichastoma (Malacocincla ) puveli Puvel's Illadopsis (Akalat) R B .

One of the most widespread Trichastoma: Soubre to Danane, Lamto, Bouakd,

Boron and Como£, may be to Korhogo.

Phyllanthus atripennis Chestnut Babbler R B . Frequent around Tai

and Nimba and in the callery forest of Maraou£ and Comoe?, 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 Bouakd.

Turdoides reinwardii Blackcap Babbler R B . Apparently sparse

distribution across the northern forest-southern guinea belt (Lamto to

Sipilou) .

44

SYVIIDAE

Bradyptecus baboecala Little Rush Warbler R B ? An unconfirmed record

(singing bird in a swamp, Ferkessddougou , June) .

Locusts 11a naevia Grasshopper Warbler P M . Found on gumean side of

Nimba (Brosset) .

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus Sedae Warbler PM. One record (Azagny,

Iodant) .

Acrocephalus scirpaceus Reed Warbler

grass of secondary (often dry) habitats

recovery from Belgium, Auer.

p m . Common in patches of tall

throughout the country. One

Acrocephalus arundinaceus

widespread than scirpaceus .

Azagny) than in the centre

Great Peed Warbler P M . Less common and

More often seen alona the coast (Ayame to

(Lamto, Bouakb) or the north (Comod, Korhogo) .

Acrocephalus (Calamoecetor ) rufescens Rufous Cane Warbler A V ? A

sinaina bird was stronaly 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 . -ed

warbler .

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

Jan) . Several probable sightings. Both African

may occur.

? One mistnetted (Lamto,

and Palearctic populations

Sphenoaecus (Melocichla) mentalis Moustached Scrub-warbler F B

in all savannas , including along the coast .

Sylvia borin Garden Warbler P M . The most abundant Sylvia throughout

(Abidjan to Nimba, Comob and Korhogo, Sep-May) .

Sylvia atricapilla Blackcap P M . Rather local: Abidjan to Comod,

Bouakb and top of Mt Nimba (Oct-Apr) .

Sylvia communis Whitethroat P M

May have increased in recent years

it mare usually wintered ?) .

Lamto and Comoe (Dec-Mar) . Scarce,

(following droughts in the Sahel where

Phylloscopus trochilus Willow Warbler PM. Common^ in all the guinea

zone (gardens and savanna wodlands, Sep-May), but also m the coastal and

forest belts. 5 recoveries from Great Britain and Norway.

Phylloscopus sibilatrix Ylo od Warbler P M . Widespread from Aboisso

and Abidjan to Nimba and Comod. Restricted to forest edge, high second

growth, gardens or plantations with many trees.

Cisticola erythrops

5 widespread savanna

Sipilou and Korhogo.

Red-faced CisticoD.a RB . The less camion of the

Cisticolas. Patchily distributed from Abidjan to

45

Cisticola cantans Singing Cisticola R B . Like C. erythrops , bat

locally more abundant and known from more localities (24) .

Cisticola lateralis Whistling Cisticola P 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 Rufous Crass-Warbler R B . Abundant in all wet-

lands with hicrhcrrass 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 Comob (Fgu Kronberg) .

Cisticola brachyptera Shortwing Cisticola R B . Very abundant in

every type of savanna throughout Ivory Coast, 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 Ferkessbdougou .

Cisticola eximia Gold Coast Cloud-scraper R B . Known only from 6

humid grassland localities between Beoumi, Korhogo and Comob.

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 Tawny-f lanked Prinia P B . Very abundant in every

open habitat (even forest clearincrs) , the southern P . s. melanorhyncha

gradually mercrina into the northern P. s. sub f lava.

Prinia leontica 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'Bingub (Feb) .

Cited from Comob (Fgu Kronberg) .

Apalis nigriceps Black-capped Apalis R B . Recorded in high undis-

turbed forest from both very humid (Ta’i, Mt Tonkui) and dry areas (Comob,

Ferkessbdougou) , as well as intervening places (Lamto, Maraoub) .

Apalis sharpii (including goslingi) Sharpe Apalis P B . Widespread in

the forest zone from Abidjan and Tal to Nimba, Bouakb and Comob.

Hypergerus atriceps Oriole Babbler R R . Often common in gallery

forests of the guinea zone, mainly north of 7°30 (rarer south to Lamto) .

46

Bathmocercus cerviniventris Black headed Stream-warbler R B . So

known from Ta'i, Nimba, Sipilou, Lamto and Gagnoa , but may have a wider

distribution in the forest zone. It favours primary forest edaes and

clearings .

camaroptera supexcillarls Yellow-browed Camaroptera B B . Widely

but sparsely distributed in dense secondary growth and gallery torest

the coast (rare) to northern guinea zone.

from

Camaroptera chloronota Green-backed Camaroptera R B • Commoner in the

western part of the country (Tal to Odiennd, includinci the upper montane

forest of Nimba) , than elsewhere (Abidjan to Ferkessddougou ) .

Camaroptera brachyura (brevicaudata) Grey backed Camaroptera R R *

Very abundant throughout the country outside the humid primary fores .

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 Bouake.

Sylvietta virens (including flaviventris )

throughout the forest and ouinea zones,

woods in the north.

Green Crombec R B . Common

Restricted to galleries and dense

Sylvietta denti Lemon-bellied Crombec P B . Smaller ranae and much

lower abundance than virens (Abidjan and Tal to Sipilou and Rouak ) .

Sylvietta brachyura Seneaal Crombec R B . Widespread m northern

guinea savanna, south to Lamto where it has markedly increased in recent

years.

Macxosphenus concolbr Grey Longbill F B. Common in thick secondary

forest, edges of clearings etc, from Abidjan-Ta’i to Odiennd (and upper

montane forest of Nimba) , Korhocro and Corrod.

Macrosphenus flavicans (kempi) Yellow longbill R B . Recorded from

Tal 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 Odiennd, Ferkessddougou and

Conod . Abundant .

pholidornis xushiae Tiny Titweaver P B . Known only from Tal, Man

Gaonoa and Lamto. Scarce (?) .

MQSCICAPIDAE

Husclcapa striata Spotted Flycatcher P M . Common every^rere outside

the forest from Sep to Apr. M. s. striata and M. s. balearica have been

secured.

Muscicapa ( Alseonax ) cassini Cassin's Grey Flycatcher 171 B

rivers, even small, with forest banks, north to 9 30.

On al 1

47

Muscicapa gambagae Gambaga Dusky Flycatcher R B ? Visually identified

several times in the northern third of the country but 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 P B . Definitely

identified only from Lamto and Tai (also cited from Nirnba, FW) , but may

occur elsewhere in hiah dense forest edges) .

Muscicapa (Alseonax ) olivascens Olivaceus Flycatcher P R . Lamto,

Gagnoa, Ta’i, Nirnba. Probably overlooked as other unobtrusive forest

species .

Muscicapa caerulescens (= Alseonax cinereus ) Ashy Flycatcher P B .

Not uncommon in small forest clearinas around Tiassal6-Oumd-Lamto , San

Pedro and Danand.

Muscicapa (Parisoma) griseigularis Grey-throated Tit-Flycatcher R B .

Collected at Duekd (M. g. parelii, Traylor), then in Tai and Nirnba areas.

Rare.

Muscicapa (Pedilorhynchus ) comitata Dusky Blue Flycatcher R B . A

bird of the northern, semi -deciduous forest (Lamto, Gagnoa, Maraoud to

Sipilou and even Boron, 9°N) . 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, Tai and Nirnba. North to Lamto.

Muscicapa ( Artomyias ) us sheri 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

distributed in savanna woodland and small gallery forest from Lamto to

Bouakd (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 ccreata Forest Flycatcher R B . In primary and secondary

forest undergrowth, away from water. From Tai to Comod.

Fraseria cinerascens White-browed 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 Flycatcher R B . Well distributed in

northern guinea savanna waodland, south to Maraoud and Toumodi.

Melaenornis annamarulae Nirnba Flycatcher R B ? Newly discovered

from Liberian foodfof Mt Nirnba (FW) and subsequently collected at Ta’i

(Chappuis) .

48

Bradornis pallidus Pale Flycatcher R B . Not uncommon . throughout

the guinea savanna woodland (Lamto to 10°N). Also locally in the fores

and coastal zones.

Hyliota flavigaster Yellow-bellied Flycatcher R B . Another species

of the quinea savanna woodland, but scarcer than the previous one. Mostly

around 8-9c%, rarely south to Lamto and north of Odiennd.

Hyliota violacea Violet-backed Flycatcher R B . Apparently rare and

restricted to primary rain forest (Ta’i to Nimba, Gagnoa and Lamto) .

Megabyas flammulatus Shrike-flycatcher P B . High rain forest from

Tai to Gagnoa and Oumd (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-Bouakd .

Batis minima

from Soubre,

to detect) .

(poensis) Fernando Po Puff-back Flycatcher R R . Known

Gaonoa and Lamto. Cited from Nimba (FW) . Rare (or difficult

Dense primary rain forest.

Batis senegalensis Seneaal Puff-back Flycatcher R B . Common through-

out the savannas north of the forest (including Lamto) . Also cited near

Abidjan (BMH) .

Platysteira cyanea Scarlet-spectacled Wattle-eye P B . Common m

gallery forest, small woods and old secondary arowth of all the quinea

zone, and also locally in coastal area.

Platysteira ( Dyaphorophyia ) castenea Chestnut Wattle eye P B •

commonest forest flycatcher everywhere, north to Comod and Korhogo.

Platysteira ( Dyaphorophyia ) tonsa White-spotted Wattle eye R B .

Collected near Abidjan and San Pedro in the canopy of primary forest.

Rare.

Platysteira ( Dyaphorophyia ) blissetti Ped-cheeked Wattle eye R B .

Locally common in thick old secondary vegetation and dense undergrowth of

gallery forest from Abidjan and Tai to Sipilou and Beoumi.

Platysteira ( Dyaphorophyia ) concreta Golden-bellied Wattle-eye pp ■

Not rare in the lower strata of high rain forest from Tai to Sipilou an

at least to Lamto. Ascends to 1 ,500 m on slopes of Mt Nimba.

Erythrocercus mccallii Chestnut-capoed Flycatcher R R . Common, in

social groups of up to 14 birds, in all the forest zone, north to Nimba,

Korhogo and Comob.

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 R . 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 Dusky 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 qallery forests mainly from Fan, Lamto,

Abengourou to Comoe, Korhogo and Odiennd. Less numerous in dense humid rain

forest (Ayamd, Abidjan, Ta'i) and upper forested slopes of Mt Nimba.

Terpsiphone (Tchitrea) viridis Paradise Flycatcher R B . Recorded in

all months (may be seasonal fluctuations) over the entire forest and guinea

zones, but never inside the primary rain forest and much scarcer than T.

rufi venter .

PAPIDAF

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 (FW) .

PFMIZIDAF

Anthoscopus parvulus Penduline Tit R B . local in dry guinea woodlands

north of 9°N.

Anthoscopus flavifrons Forest Penduline Tit P B . Rare in treefall

gaps of primary forest (Tai, Fresco) .

SALPRONITHIDAE

Salpornis spilonota Spotted Creeper R B . Northern ouinea woodlands

(Comod to Odiennd and Tinnrela) .

NECTAR IN I I DAE

Anthreptes gabonicus Mouse Brown Sunbird P B . Widespread in mangroves

and aloncr the forested banks of rivers north to 9°50.

Anthreptes fraseri Scar let- tufted Sunbird R B . Often caught in mist-

nets in forest undergrowth 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 1Q°N.

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 (Comod , Ferkessddougou , Roundiali) .

Nectar inia (Anthreptes ) seimundi Little Creen Sunbird R B . Uncommon

but widespread in the forest zone. Enters northern gallery forests at

least up to 9°N.

50

Nectarinia (Cyanomitra) batesi Bates Sunbird

forest sunbird taken near Lamto, Gagnoa and Tai.

r B . Bare primary

Nectarinia (Cyanomitra) olivacea Olive Sunbird P B . Very abundant

in every primary, secondary or gallery forest throughout the country.

Nectarinia (Cyanomitra) verticals Olive-backed Sunbird P B Common

in coastal to southern guinea zone, outside the dense ores . ecr .s

north of 9°N.

Nectarinia (Cyanomitra) cyanolaema Blue-throated Pro™ Sunbird PB

Abundant2 in coastal woodlands and coconut Data plantatrons, rangtng

locally north to Lamto and Daloa.

Nectarinia (Chalcomitra) fvliginosa Carmelite Sunbird P B M?

found in coastal area (Rssini to San Pedro) where it is locally common,

often in dense bushes near water.

Nectarinia (Chalcomitra) senegalensis Sc^rle't: bre^^ ^^rare " B

Panaes right across the northern guinea and sudan zones. Not rare.

Nectarinia (Chalcomitra) ahelberti Buff-throated Sunbird P B •

in plantations, edges, gallery forest, mainly between 6 and fiOp (extremes.

Grand Bassam and Korhogo) .

Nectarinia (Cinnyris) venusta Yellow-bellied Sunbird P p . _Ye^

abundant at the upper limit of montane forest on Ht Nimba (1 ,600-1 70^

abundant at tne upper ui 4-n qu20 N

Widely ranging but local or uncommon m lowland from the coast

Nectarinia (Cinnyris) chloropygia Olive-bellied Sunbird PB •

Abundant everywhere in secondary vegetation, gardens, edges and g y

forest to nearly 10°N.

Nectarinia (Cinnyris) minulla Tiny Sunbird P B . Less widely ranging

(St kno^ from Abidjan to Korhogo) and imch less aidant than N . chlropyg

Poughly similar, but often more forested, habitat.

Nectarinia (Cinnyris) cuprea Copper Sunbird PB . Oman in a! l^ypesj

of savanna from the coast to the northern border, but its abundance marked

decreases north of 9°N.

Nectarinia (Cinnyris) coccinigaster Splendid Sunbird P B . Pange very

similar to that of N. cuprea but usually more atundant and more partial to

denser woodlands.

Nectarinia pulchella Beautiful Long-tailed Sunbird R B . Rather commc

north of 9°N but rarely reported south to Bouakd. A recent sighting of a

pair^ in^Abidjan^Arteille, Mar) may represent a new extension or a previous

undetected population, well south of the normal range.

Nectarinia (Cinnyris) j ohannae Johanna's Sunbird P B . ' vlbbVo^Ta''

species, mostly distributed through the humid southern forest (Avamd to -

and Nimba) but locally ranging north to Maraoue and Dabakala.

Nectarinia (Cinnyris) superia Superb Sunbird P B Co^ner^than «.

j ohannae and more often found on edges, secondary or gall y

Throughout the forest zone, north to Sipilou and Comod.

51

ZOSTEROPIDAE

Zosterops senegalensis Yellow White-eye P B . Mostly northern cruinea

savanna woodland. Sporadically south to Lamto and even near Abidjan and

Azagny.

EMBERIZIDAE

Emberiza hortulana Ortolan P M . Quite common between 1,250 and 1,400

m on the Guinean side of Mt Nimba (Brosset) . Not yet recoomized within our

limits .

Emberiza cabanisi Cabanis ' Buntinq R B . Scarce in the southern cruinea

savanna but becomes quite common north of 9°N.

Emberiza forbesi Little Buntinq P B . Certain identification only 5

times (Comob to Ouangolodougou and M'Bingub) .

Emberiza tahapisi Cinnamon-breasted Rock Buntinq R B . Common on

rocky hills around Korhoqo, south to Niangbo.

FRINGILLIDAE

Serinus mozambicus Yellow-fronted Canary P R . Common throughout the

country in open arassy, lightly wooded habitats.

Serinus ( Poliospiza ) gularis Streaky-headed Seed-eater R B . Seen

and collected at least 4 times between 9° and 10°N (Comoe to Korhoao) .

PLOCEIDAE

Amblgospiza albifrons Grosbeak Weaver P B . Several breedina colonies

around the forest-savanna limit (Yamoussoukro to Maraoub, Daloa, Bouakb,

Katiola and Comob) . More patchily distributed elsewhere south to Sassandra

and north to Korhogo. Small scale movements during the dry season.

Ploceus pelzelhi Little Weaver P B . Very restricted to some coastal

lagoons, marshes and ricefields. Often mixed with other Weaver species on

feeding grounds but usually separated. Breedinq colonies on trees over-

hanging water (Grand Bassam, Azaqny) .

Ploceus aurantius Oranqe Weaver R B . Another 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 Abidjan for

instance) . Locally alonq large rivers north to 604.

Ploceus heuglini Heuglin's Masked Weaver R B . Widespread throughout

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 Villaqe Weaver P B . Common breeder in every town

or villaqe.

Ploceus nigerrimus ( castaneofuscus ) Chestnut and Black Weaver F B .

Abundant south of 7°M, it quickly decreases north of the forest but yet

breeds in Comob and Korhoao (forest along water) .

52

Ploceus supecciliosus I pacbyrby nchus) Compact Weaver F B .

hiah rank qrass from Dafcou to Comoe. Subject to (loca . )

ments .

Ploceus tricolor Yellow-mantled Weaver R B . All the forest zone but

only south of 8°N.

Ploceus albinucha Maxwell's Flack Weaver P B . Small breeding

colonies found from San Pedro to Lamto, Bongouanou and Maraoud.

Ploceus nigricollis ( brachyptervs ) Spectacled Weaver F B ^ ^

common in coastal and southern guinea savanna. Very patchy distritu

north of 7°N and never seen north of oiSI.

Ploceus preussi Golden-backed Weaver R B . Collected at Sipilou (Apr)

and near Tai (Dec) . Cited from Nimba (FW) . Rare.

Malimbus scutatus Red-vented Malimte R B ^ ^ost^dant Malinte

of the evergreen forest zone. Recorded north to Sipilou and Lamto.

^ ni, willed Malimbe F B . Common in dense humid under-

qrowth^of^every kind of forest, including high mangrove, .May even nest to

Snse savannatoodland if trees overhanging water are available. Fixten

north to Sipilou and Comob .

, . , . orD,fpg Mai imbe R B . Uncommon and very local, in

SS3 Sd^.SeS ft-fte^aS Igsp^n. niters (the

lowest) and M. rubricollis (upper part of the forest) .

Malimbus rubricollis Red-headed Malimbe P R ” Wideiy distributed an

SSTSJS SS-STit orth

(although the secretive M. nltens may sometimes dominate) . It ranges no

to Comob and Boron.

Type specimen collected near

P B ? 2

Aloncr small

Malimbus ballmanni Cola Malimbe P B ?

Tal (Wolters) . No additional data.

Malimbus rubriceps (Anaplectes melanotus)

pairs seen at widely separated places m Coirod (Apr and July) .

patches of forest .

ricefiewf^d^llef (taf ac^fSd breeding Slonies ^^e^izeK

V -ioiltural development/

. , . -i ^ n-i Qa a Recent] v reported twice in dry

Quelea quelea Red— bi. ed Qu --- • 1 pad /OCT AT AVI May be

season near Ferkessbdougou (Ouattara, unpubl. repo , ,, concessive

rSaSd to the southward shift of the species' range after the successive

droughts of the last 1 0 years .

Euplectes afer (afra) Golden Bishop P B

E. orix. Similar range and habitat.

Much less numerous than

Euplectes ( Coliuspasser ) ardens Iona-tailed Black Whydah

Northern guinea ranue: Beoumi-Bouake to Comob and Torhouo.

R B

local.

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 cruinea 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 Whydah R B . The most abundant and

widespread granivorous bird of all the natural savanna across the country.

In central areas (such as Lamto) , where other Euplectes and Q. erythrops

are rare, it builds very dense populations on larae ricefields switchino

from a normally territorial and polygamous to a nearly colonial breeding

system.

Anomalospiza imberbis Cuckoo Weaver R B . Known only from Mt Tonkui

( Dekeys er) and Maraoud.

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 found very far from any human settlement (Comod) .

Petronia dentata Rush Sparrow P B . Only 8 records (M'Binque to

Ferkessddouaou and Comod) .

Vidua macroura Pin-tailed Whydah P B . Common in all short-orass man-

made habitats. Rare in natural savanna.

Vidua orientalis ( togoensis ) Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah R B . Wide-

spread from Touba, Beoumi and Bouake to Mali and Upper Volta boundaries.

2 species are sometimes recognized which may both occur in Ivory Coast:

v. togoensis in the southern part of the range (collected by Lowe) and

V. orientalis in the north.

Vidua ( Hypochera ) chalybeata , Vidua wilsoni (H. funerea). Vidua funerea

(H. nigeriae ) , Vidua camerunensis Indicro 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 known to be parasitized by these 4 species also occur

within the ranee 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 P B ? Collected at Dubkud

(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-Danand-N imba ) .

Pirenestes ostrinus ( sanguineus ) Seedcracker P B . Common in humid

undererrowth of all the forest zone, often raiding nearby ricefields when

available. Extends north to Ferkessddouaou alona rivers.

54

Nigrita canicapilla Grey-crowned Negro-finch R B . Widespread in

broken, secondary or gallery forest from the coast to Odienne, Korhogo and

Comob.

Nigrita bicolor Chestnut-breasted. Negro-finch R B . Same status and

distribution as N, canicapilla but at a lower level in the forest.

Nigrita fusconota White-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 Nimba (FW) . Rare.

Spermophaga haematina Blue-billed Weaver R B . Comrron in all types of

forest north to Korhogo and Comob.

.

Nesocharis capi strata White-cheeked Olive-weaver R B . Uncommon in

northern guinea savanna woodland (11 localities) .

Ttmadina 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, Bouakb and Comob) .

Pytilia phoenicoptera Red-winged Pytilia R B . 4 separate records,

mainly along gallery forest edges, north and around 9°N (Comob to Odiennb) .

Estrilda melpoda Orange-cheeked Waxbill R B . The commonest waxbill

throughout the country.

Estrilda troglodytes Black-ramped Waxbill R B . Very patchily

distributed through northern forest - southern guinea belt (Maraoue,

Abengourou, Comob) . Also near Abidjan (Champroux) .

Estrilda astrild Waxbill R B . Widespread but rarely common all

over the guinea savanna (Lamto to Ferkessbdougou) .

Estrilda bengala (Uraeginthus bengalus ) Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu P B .

All open savannas north of 9°N.

Estrilda (Lagonosticta ) caerulescens Lavender Firefinch R B . Often

seen, only north of 9°N (isolated pairs) .

Estrilda larvata (Lagonosticta nigricollis ) Black faced Firefinch P B .

Rather local (7 records) , all north of 9°N.

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 P B . Short grass,

open savannas, from 10°N to extreme south (Sipilou) of the northern guinea

zone.

55

Lagonotsticta rara Black-bellied Firefinch R B . Locally common

along some qallery forest, from Bouakd to Comoe and Korhogo at least.

Amandava (Estrilda) sub f lava Zebra Waxbill R B . Tall grass swamps

and open plains along rivers (Korhogo and Comod) .

Ortygospiza atricollis Quail-finch R B . Not uncommon in short grass

areas, from Comoe and Korhogo, south to Rouakd and Man.

Lonchura fringilloides Magpie Mannikin R 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

Bouakd.

Lonchura bicolor Blue-billed Mannikin R B . Not numerous but 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

BANNERMAN, D.A. (1953) The Birds of West and Equatorial Africa. 2 vols.

Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh

BANNERMAN, D.A. & LOWE, 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 Gefancreschaft. Gefied. Welt. 88:

61-62

BERLIOZ, J. (1954) Etude d'une petite collection d'oiseaux de Cote

d'Ivoire. Bull. Mus. Nat. Hist. Nat. Paris 26: 658-662

BERLIOZ, J. (1960) Note sur les oiseaux du aenre Hyliota (Passeriformes,

Muscicapides) . Bull. Mus. Nat. Hist. Nat. Paris 32: 197-199

BERLIOZ, J. (1962) Note sur une esp£ce africaine d ' Alc&Iinidd , le Myioceyx

lecontei (Cassin) . Bull. Mus. Nat. Hist. Nat. Paris 34: 200-201

BIGOT, L. (1963) Note omithologique sur les monts Nimba, avec analyse de

contenus stomacaux. Oiseau R.F.O. 33: 283-285

BIGOT, L. & ROUX, F. (1966) Premieres donndes sur l'avifaune de la savane

et la for£t galerie de Lamto (COte d'Ivoire). Oiseau R.F.O. 36: 145-152

56

POUET G. (1931) Contribution b. la repartition des oiseaux en Afrique

Occidentale (Liberia et Bas Cavally, frontiere francolibenenne) .

Oiseau 1-6: 363-377, 7: 426-437 and 8-9: 487-502

ROUFT G (1955-1961) Oiseaux de 1' Afrique tropicale. Faune de l'Union

^'anckise XVI and XVII, ORSTOM, Paris

POUET G & MILLET HORSIN, H. (1916-17) I.iste des oiseaux recueillis ou

ALeX-ds a la C6te 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 EL F. O. 25: 1—16

BRUNEL, J. & THIOLLAY , J.M. (1969-1970) Life prdl iminaire des oiseaux

de C6te d'Ivoire. Alauda 37: 230-254, 315 337 and 38. 72

CHAMPROUX, J.P. (1973-1974) Les oiseaux du Bord

Document pedagogique, Ecole Normale Supdneure, Abidjan, p ,

115 p.

CHAPPUIS , C. (1974-1979) Illustration _ sonore de problfemes bioaocustigues

poses par les oiseaux de la zone ethiopienne. Alauda 42. 197 222,

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 Nimt

reaion in Liberia. Bull. Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Z ool.

DEKEYSER, P.L. (1947) Note sur quelques oiseaux peu communs de l'A.O.F.

Bull. Mus. Nat. Hist. Nat. Paris 19: 54-56

Bull .

DEKEYSER, P.L. (1947) Notes d'omithologie Ouest afncame.

IFAN , Dakar 9: 358-382

DEKEYSER, P.K. s DEFIVOT, J. (1966-1968) Les oiseaux de 1' Ouest africair

3 vols. IFAN, Dakar

DEVINEAU, J.L. (1984) Structure et dynamique de quelques forJts tropophr

de 1' Ouest africain. These Doctorat, Universite Paris VII

EPARD, C. & ROUX, F. (1983) La Chevechette du Cap, Glaucidium capensejk

1' Ouest africain. Description d'une race gdographique nouvel ...

R.F.O. 53: 97-104

FGU KRONBFRG (1980) Liste des oiseaux du Parc National de la Comod, C6t<

d'Ivoire. Kronbera and Abidjan

TORRES WATSON, A.D. (1970) A new species of Melaenornis (Muscicapmae )

from Liberia. Bull. B.O.C. 90: 145-148

TORRES WATSON, A.D. (1971) List of birds known to occur in Liberia (to e

of 1970). Nimba Res. laboratory

FAIL B.P. & MOREAU, R.E. (1970) An atlas of speciation of African

passerine birds. British Museum (Nat. Hist.), TOndon

INTES, A. (1970) Sur quelques Stemes europdennes reprises en Cdte d'lv

en' 1967-68. Bull. IFAN 22: 479-480

INTES, A. (1971) Stemes reprises en C6te d'Ivoire en 1968 69,

23: 479-480

Bull. I

tntfs A (1874) Sternes reprises en C6te d'Ivoire au cours des dernier

INTES, A. ( - > _2 t 1973. Doc. Scient. Cent

hivernages. Anndes 1969, 19/u, iy/i, iy/z

Rech. Oceanogr. Abidjan V: 77-85

57

INTES, a. & STRETTA, J.M. (1979) Stemes reprises en COte d'Ivoire au

cours des hivemages 1973-74 et 1974-75. Doc. Scient. Centre Rech.

Oc^anogr. 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. Memoire n° 50, ORSTOM

Paris

OUSTALET, M.E. (1897) Liste des oiseaux rapportes du Baoule par M.

Delafosse. Bull. Mus. Nat. Hist. Nat. Paris 3: 198-199

PARELIUS, D.A. (1967) A nest of Ongchognathus 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 C£>te d'Ivoire.

Bull. Mus. Nat. Hist. Nat. Paris 33: 357-368

PFEFFER, P. (1963) Presence du Grand Moqueur h tete blanche ( Phoeniculus

bollei bollei) en Cote d'Ivoire. Oiseau R.F.O. 33: 69

RAYNOR, G.S. (1970) An African recovery of a North American Common Tern.

Bird Banding 41: 310-311

SCHOUTEDEN, H. & DF POO, A. (1967) Contribution h l'dtude de la faune

ornitholoaique de la Cote d'Ivoire. Rev. Zool. Bot. Afr. 76: 9R_10C>,

200

SEPLE, W. , MOREL , G.J. & HARTWIG, w. (1977) A field guide to the birds of

^est Africa. Collins, London

SNOW, D.W. (1978) An atlas of speciation in African non passerine birds.

British Museum (Nat. Hist.) , Xondon

THIOLLAY, J.M. (1971) Les Guepiers et Polliers d'une zone de contact

savane-foret en Cote d'Ivoire. Oiseau R.F.O. 41: 148-162

THIOLLAY, J.M. (1972) L'avifaune de la rdgion de Lamto (moyenne Cote

d'Ivoire). Annales University d'Abidjan F(IV, 1): 5-132

THIOLLAY, J.M. (1975) Les rapaces d'une zone de contact savane-for^t en

Cote d'Ivoire: presentation du peuplement. Alauda 43: 75-102

THIOLLAY, J.M. (1975) Les rapaces des Parcs Nationaux de Cote d'Ivoire.

Analyse du peuplement. Oiseau R.F.O. 45: 241-257

THIOLLAY, J.M. (1977) Distribution saisonni^re des rapaces diurnes en

Afrique occidentale. Oiseau R.F.O. 46: 253-294

TRAYLOR, M. A. (1970) Two new birds from the Ivory Coast. Bull. B.O.C.

90: 78-80

TRAYLOR, 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 Cote d'Ivoire du Petit

Calao It bee jaune ( Lophoceros semifasciatus ) . Oiseau R.F.O. 23: 148

VOISIN, J.C. (1953) Sur la presence de Cinngris mihullus en Cdte d'Ivoire.

Oiseau R.F.O. 23: 243

VOISIN, J.C. (1954) Sur un tr£s curieux cas de nidification de Hirundo

leucosoma en Moyenne c6te d'Ivoire. Oiseau R.F.O. 24: 282-283

58

WHITE, C.M. (1960-1965) Revised checklists of the Ethiopian Muscicapidae,

African Rroadbills, ... Shrikes ..., Flycatchers ... and non passerine

birds. Govemt. Printer. Lusaka

WOLTERS, H.E. (1974) Aus der Vogel sammlung des Museums Koenig. Bonn.

Zool. Beitr. 25: 283-291

Dr J.M. Thiollay, Laboratoire de Zoologie,

46 rue d'Ulm, 75230 Paris,

Ecole Normale Sup£rieure,

F ranee

mw-.

Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus, Nigeria. Photo: Philip Blasdale

59

GAZETTEER

GRAND LAHOU

JACQUEVILLE

KAKPIN

KATIOIA

5°09N-5°01T

5°12N-4°25W

8°40N-3°41W

8°31N-5°04W

KONG

KORHOGO

KOSSOU (Lake)

LAMTO

MAN

9°10N-4°33W

9°22N-5°3lw

6°59N-5°32W

6°13N-5°02W

7°31N-7°37T«7

MARAOUE (Nat. Park) 6°55-7°1 3N-5°55-6°1 4W

M ' BINGUE 1 0°00N-5°54W

N'DOUCI (near TIASSALE)

NIANGBO (Mount) 9°00N-5°20T

NIMBA (Mount, including DANIPLEU ,

YFALE)

ODIENNE

OUANGOLODOUGOU

OUME

POPT-BOUET

SANPEDRO

SASSANDRA

7°35N-8°25T

9°36N-7°32W

9°56N-5°1 1W

6°22N-5°26W

5°19N-4°01W

4°45N-6°37W

4°58N-6°08W

SEGUELA

SIPILOU

SOUBRE

TAABO (Lake, near

TAI (Nat. Park)

incr E and SE

7°58N-6°44W

7°52N-8°06W

5°50N-6°35KT

LAMTO)

5°52N-7°28W, extend-

TEHINI

TIASSALE

TINGRELA

TCNKUI (Mount,

TOUBA

TOUMODI

YAMOUSSOUKRO

9°39N-3°32W

5°53N-4°57W

1 0°26N-6°20W

near MAN)

8°22N-7°42W

6°34N-5°01W

6°49N-5°17W

RE COMM ANIMATIONS AUX AUTEURS

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

avec illustrations. Les manuscrits doivent etre dactylographies a double

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

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

ou un biologiste.

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

mais les figures doivent etre preparees pour une reproduction directe avec

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

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

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

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

systeme metrique, les references devront etre soigneusement suivies et

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

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

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

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

1: 90 pour les textes plus longs.

REFERENCES A OMETTKE 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 8, DOWSETT 1973 : Elgood, J.H., Fry, C.H. & Dowsett, R.J.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Longmans, London

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

Birds of West Africa. Collins, London

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

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

WHITE 1960-65 : White, C.M.N. (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.

f (3>S> if l o /

MALIMBUS

the West African Ornithological Society

d’Ornithologie de FOuest Africain

VOLUME y 1985

Number 2 Octob

WEST

SOCILTE

AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

IT ORNITHOLOGIE DE LOUEST AFRTGAIN

Council 1982-1985

President Professor Brian J. Harris

Vice-President Dr Gerard J . Morel

Hon. Secretary Professor John H. Elgood

Hon. Treasurer & Membership Secretary Mr Robert E. Sharland

Managing Editor, Malimbus Dr 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 ' Ornithologxe ,

Richard-Toll, B.P. 20, Senegal) 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 m tne bir s

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

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

Ornithologists' Society).

Applications for membership are welcomed. Annual

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

Members receive Malimbus free of charge .

membership subscription

for Corporate Members.

BACK NUMBERS : Vols. 11 (1975) , 12 (1976)

Bulletin of the Nigerian Ornithologists'

and of Malimbus Vol. 1 (1979) onward are

Most earlier volumes of the Bulletin are

, 13 (1977) and 14 (1978) of the

Society (the same format as Malimbus )

available at £6.00* per volume,

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 Soc

subsidy by the Ahmadu Bello University

Malimbus belongs.

iety acknowledges with gratitude

Press, Nigeria, to whom copyright o

f

ISSN : 0331 - 3689

Emblem design by Philip Blasdale

1985

61

A NEW SUBSPECIES OF THE RUFOUS SWAMP WARBLER

ACROCEPHALUS RUFESCENS FROM SENEGAL

by P. R. Colston and G. J. Morel

Received 21 January 1985

At Lake Guiers near Pichard-Toll , Seneqal, Acrocephalus rufescens occurs in

the sane kind of Typha beds as the African Reed Warbler A . baeticatus ,

which has recently been found to be racially distinct (Colston & Morel 1984) .

In the past, efforts to describe this most northwestern population of

rufescens have suffered from a lack of comparative material (Morel & Roux

1962) . In order to establish the identity of these birds GJM was able to

collect sinqle 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) (RMNH) 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); Lake Guiers, near Richard-Toll ,

Senegal, 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 When compared 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 whiter.

The underparts are also very pallid looking by comparison, even whiter than

the palest race chadensis . The chin and throat are pure white, while the

breast, belly and undertail coverts are off-white, or very faintly frinaed

pale buff on the flanks. Wines 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 lower 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 Nigeria. The reaction

to the tape was remarkably swift, although GJM soon discovered that the

size of the population was rather small in comparison with A. baeticatus

(which 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 with an enlarged ovary

62

P.R. Colston and G.J. Morel

MALIMBUS 7

Table 1 Measurements of Acrocephalus rufescens senegalensis and A. r

rufescens

Means in parenthesis.

(ovules to 3 m) and the five males taken ^t»^n 24 26 )^1 had

enlarged aonads (4-5 imi) , so that the species would appear to have a

breeding regime similar to that of A . baeticatus , which also breeds tnere

S^y-June and like that species, April adults show some degree of war to

their plumaqe. In West Africa only two localities for A. rufescens ar

shown in Hall and Moreau's Atlas (1970): Lake Guiers, and near Dak

(R. de Naurois, pers. conn.) . The Atlas does not show any other records

west of 0° alonq the coast or between Chad and Senegal, and to the be

^ knowledge there is only one other record, of a bird caught along the

Niger in Mimosa pigra at Bamako in November (Lamarche 1981) .

REFERENCES

COLSTON , P.R. & MOREL , G.J. (1984)

Warbler Acrccephalus baeticatus

A new subspecies of the African Reed

from Senegal. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 104:

3-5

LAMARCHE, B. (1981) Liste commentee des oiseaux du Mali, deuxieme partie.

Passereaux. Malimbus 3: 73-102

MOREL, G. & ROUX, F. (1962) Donnees nouvelles sur l’avifaune du Senegal.

L'Oiseau et RFO 32: 28-56

P. R.

Colston , British Museum (Natural History ), Tring , Herts , HP23 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

Falaore Game Reserve, formerly Koain Kano Forest Reserve, lies in the

southernmost tonque of Kano State, Nigeria. This tongue extends south from

a narrow 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 which fall between April and October.

Previously estimated at 640 km2, a recent revision now indicates the name

reserve covers an area of some 920 km (Yahiya Suleiman, pers. comn.) .

Between 1978 and 1983 a total of 66 visits (most for a whole day, some

for a few hours and some includina overnight stays) was made to the reserve.

The majority of trips included walks alona the river and its tributaries

and to inselberas . Because of difficulty of access very few visits were

made to the most northerly area of the reserve borderina Tiaa lake. Thus

with few 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

dominated by Guinea Savanna.

SPECIES REPRESENTATION

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 rubr icata) 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 Falaore as a bird habitat should not be underestimated.

Previous lists of Kano State birds (Sharland & TTilkinson 1981 , Wilkinson

& Aidley 1982, Beecroft & Wilkinson 1983) are up-dated by records of cuckoos

Cuculus canorus cancrus and C. canoras gularis, Red— pate Cisticola Cisticcla

ruf iceps , Moustached Scrub Warbler Sphenoeacus mentalis , and Wilson's

Indigob.ird Vidua wilsoni.

SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

The monthly occurrences of most species recorded at Falgore follow those

expected according to the miaratory patterns outlined in Elgood, Sharland

& Ward (1966) and Elgood, Fry & Dowsett (1973). The migratory patterns of

64

r. Wilkinson and R. Beecroft

MALIMBUS 7

Figure 1 Falgore Game Reserve (stippled) and Tiga I^ake (hatched)

Kano State, Niaeria

Pygmy Kingfishers Ceyx picta have already been noted ^ (Wilkinson 1982) .

topendix I suqgests that several other species, previously considered

sedentary, are highly seasonal at Faloore. Whether the changes m

abundance at Falgore reflect the merely local movements g ^mge

mioration remains for most species uncertain. However the consider a 1

reduction in numbers of Lesser Flue-eared Starlings Lamprotornxs cMoropterus

at Falgore in the mid-rains is well correlated with their seasonal influx

at Kano. The few records of the uncormon Spotted Creeper °

at Falgore were in June and July. Fry ( 965 notes that P • Ward s tvo

records of the Spotted Creeper at a similar latitude at z aria were aUo

June and July; with so few records, that may be coincidental , bat the

possibility of it being migratory deserves further investigate .

1985

Falgore, Nigeria

65

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are grateful to D. J. Aidley, D. O'Connor, and especially to P. E,

Sharland for their unpublished records. Special thanks are due to Alhaji

Hadi Mustafa and the staff at Falaore 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

BEECROFT, R. & WILKINSON , R. (1983) Additions to local avifaunas: Kano

State. Malimbus 5: 93

CRICK, H. Q. P. & MARSHALL, P. J. (1981) The Birds of Yankari Game

Reserve, Nigeria: their abundance and seasonal occurrence. Malimbus

3: 103-114

FRY, C. H. (1965) The birds of Zaria. IV - Residents, vagrants, and

checklist (Passerines). Bull. Niger . Orn. Soc. 2: 91-102

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

Malimbus 3: 7-30

WILKINSCN, R. (1982) Seasonal movements of the Pygmy Kingfisher Ce yx

picta in West Africa. Malimbus 4: 53-54, 108

VTILKINSON, 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 1LH , UK

Roger Beecroft , Alcedo , Hail Lane, Witnesham , Suffolk, UK

White-fronted Finch-Lark Eremopter yx nigriceps Hilary J. Welch

66

R. Wilkinson and R. Beecroft

MALIMBUS 7

APPENDIX I: MONTHLY RECORDS OF BIRDS AT FALCORE GAME RESERVE

Note - Abundance ratings although subjective attempt to follow those in rhe

Birds of Africa; that is abundant = 10-100 daily; common 1 10 da y,

frequent = quite often seen or heard; uncommon = 10 or fewer in a year.

follow Serle & Morel (1977).

Remarks

Nomenclature and sequence

Podiceps ruficollis

Phalocroccrax africanus

Nycticorax nycticorax

Ardeola ralloides

A. ibis

Butorides striatus

Egretta alba

E. garzetta

Ardea cinerea

A. melanocephala

A. purpurea

Scopus umbretta

Ciconia abdimii

C. nigra

Anastomus lamelligerus

Bostrychia hagedash

Plegadis falcinellus

Dendrocygna viduata

Sarkidiornis melanota

Trigonoceps occipitalis

Gyps bengalensis

Neophron monachus

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

JFMAMJ JASOND

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

xxxxxxxxxxxx

X X

X XX

X

X X

XXX

X X X X X X

X XXX

xxxxxxxxxx X

XX XX XX XXX

X

X X

XXXXXXXX XXX

XXXXXX X X X X X

X

X X

X X X X X x

X X

XX XX XX XXX

XXX X

X XXX X X X

A single record

Uncommon

Frequent

Common

Frequent/Corrmon. Nest build-

ing 8 June 1983

A single record

Frequent/Common in late dry

season

Frequent/Cammon in dry

season

Frequent in late dry/early

rains

Frequent except late

rains

Common. One entered nest 8

June 1983

Uncommon

A single record

Uncommon

Frequent in rains

Frequent , absent late dry

season. Adult with ten gos-

lings 20 October 1982

Uncommon

Frequent/Corrmon . Adults at

nest site in March and Apr]

1982

Frequent/Corrmon

A sinqle record

A single record

Uncommon in dry season

Frequent/Corrmon

Frequent/Cormon

Uncommon

Frequent

Uncommon

Frequent

1985

67

Falgore, Nigeria

Butastur rufipennis

Butec auguralis

Lophaetus occipitalis

Hieraaetus spilogaster

Polemaetus bellicosus

Aquila rapax

A. wahlbergi

Haliaetus vocifer

Milvus mi grans

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

Limnocorax flavirostra

Gallinula chloropus

G. angulata

Podica senegalensis

Eupodotis melanogaster

Actophilornis africana

Vanellus spinosus

V. tectus

Limosa limosa

Tringa nebular ia

T. glareola

T. ochropus

T. hypoleucos

Gallinagc gallinago

Himantopus himantopus

Postratula benghalensis

Sterna nilotica

Pterocles quadricinctus

Columba guinea

JFMAMJ JASOND

X X X X X XX

X X

XXXXX X XX

X XX X

XXX

X XXX

XXX

X

xxxxxxx xxxx

X X

XXXX X

X XXX

X

XXXX X

XXXXXX X X

X

XXX

X X

XX XX XX

xxxxxxxxxxxx

X

XXX

X

xxxxxxxxx

XXX X

XXXXXX XXX

X

X X

X

X X

XXX XXX

XXXXX XXX

X

X X

X

XXXX X X X

XXXXX XXX

Frequent/Conmon except mid

rains. One by nest 30 March

1982

Uncommon

Frequent

Uncommon

Uncorrrnon

Uncommon

A single record of an immature

Common except mid rains

Uncomnon

Uncommon

A single record

Uncommon/Frequent

Frequent

Passage only

Frequent in late dry season

Only two records

Frequent/Un cannon

Common

Cormon. Adults with 3 young on

30 March 1982, and with a

sinqle youngster on 4 April

1982

Frequent/ Canton

A single record

Uncommon

Single records

A single record

Frequent

Unconuon

Common except mid rains.

Scrape with 2 recently hatched

chicks and 2 pipping eggs 19

March 1983

A single record

Uncomnon

A single record

Frequent on spring passage

Frequent/COmron 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-clapping display flight on

20 October 1982

68

R. Wilkinson and R. Beecroft

MALIMBUS 7

Streptopelia semitorquata

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 solitarius

C. canorus canorus

C. canorus gularis

Chrysococcyx klaas

C. caprius

C. cupreus

Centropus senegalensis

Otus leucotis

Bubo africanus

Glaucidium perlatum

Caprimulgus rufigena

C. climacurus

Macrodipteryx longipennis

Apus apus

A. caffer

A. af finis

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

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 X X X X

X XX

XXX

Ccurmon/Frequent

Frequent

Oonmon/ Abundant

Corrmon

Frequent/Common in dry

season

Common /Abundant

Frequent/Cormon

Common

Frequent

Oommon

A single record

One record

Frequent in wet season

Frequent/Comron

A single record

Uncommon

Frequent

A single record

Uncommon

A single record

Frequent/Coirmon in wet

season

Frequent

Common. Nest with 2 nest-

lings, 10 January 1982

Uncommon

Frequent

Uncommon

Uncommon/Frequent in wet

season

Uncommon. Courtship dispL

1 July 1982

Uncommon

Frequent

Frequent except mid -rains

Frequent

Abundant. Feeding young i

nest, 16 April 1983

Uncommon

Common/ Frequent. Immature

bird, 21 June 1980

Frequent

Uncommon

Frequent/Cormon in wet

season

Frequent/Common in dry

season

Upupa epops

X X X X X

1985

69

Falgore, Nigeria

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

M. rufocinnamomea

M. nigricans

Eremopterix leucotis

Galerida cristata

G. modesta

Hirundo rustics

H. smithii

H. aethiopica

H. leucosoma

H. senegalensis

H. daurica

H. abyssinica

H. griseopyga

H. fuligula

Deli chon 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

Common. One carrying food on

14 March 1982

Frequent

Common

Frequent

Uncommon

Frequent/Common

Unconmon

Frequent

Frequent except early dry

season

Frequen t/Uncommcn

Uncommon

Frequent

A single record

Uncommon

Frequent

A single record

Uncommon

A single record

Corrmon/Frequent in dry

season

A single record

Uncomron. 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

Unconmon

Frequent but seasonal

Frequent/Common 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 /Common . Nest with

2 nestlings, 21 March 1981

Frequent

Frequent/Un common

Uncommon

Common/Frequent

Frequen t/Common

Uncommon

Common/ Frequen t

Frequent

Fr equ en t /Common

Common

Abundant except mid rains.

Nestlings 29 April 1982.

Recent fleda lings 20 May

1982.

70

P. Wilkinson and R. Beecroft

MALIMBUS 7

L. chalcurus

L. caudatus

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

Buphagus africanus

Ptilostomus afer

Corvus albus

Coracina pectoral is

Campephaga phoenicea

Pycnonotus barbatus

Chlorocichla flavicollis

Saxicola rubetra

Oenanthe oenanthe

Oenanthe bottae

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

X X X X

X X X X X X

Cercomela familiar is

Mgrmecocichla

cinnamomei ventris

M. albifrons

Morticola saxatilis

Phcenicurus phoenicurus

Cossgpha niveicapilla

Lusciria megarhynchos

Turdus pelios

Turdoides plebejus

T. reinwardii

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

A. scirpaceus

Sphenoeacus mentalis

Hippolais polyglotta

H. pallida

Sylvia communis

Phylloscopus trochilus

Cisticola cant an s

C. erythrops

C. natalensis

C. ruficeps

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

Single record

Frequent

Uncommon, highly seasonal

Uncommon, associated with

Fulani cattle

Common. Fed-billed immatmi

January , March , May , June 1

and October

Frequent

Uncommon

Frequent in wet season

Common/Abundant

Uncommon

Frequent/Common in dry

season. Nest building 15 (

February 1981. Song dispL

flight 2 February 1983,

iirmatures 14 May 1983

Uncorrmon/Frequent . Nestll

20 May 1982. Adults carry

food 3 January and 19 Mar

1983.

Frequent except dry seaso

when absent or overlooked

Frequent. Song and wing-

flicking display 21 March

1981. Immature 10 June 19

Uncommon

Single record

Uncommon

Frequent

Frequent/Common

Uncommon/Frequent

Uncommon

Frequent by song in rains

Sicrht records require

confirmation

C. juncidis

Prinia subflava

Camaroptera brachyura

Eremomela pusilla

Sylvietta brachyura

Muscicapa striata

M . aquatica

Ficedula hypoleuca

Melaenornis edolioides

Bradornis pallidus

X X

xxxxxxxxx

X x

xxxxxxxxx

X X X X X

X

X XXXXX

X X XXX

Uncommon

X Frequent

X Uncommon

X X Frequent

X FrequentA]ncommon

A single record

Frequent

X X Frequent /Uncommon

1985

Falgore, Nigeria

71

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 superci liosus

Passer griseus

Petronia dentata

Sporopipes frontalis

Vidua macroura

V. chalybeata

V. wilsoni

JFMAMJJASOND

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

xxxxxxxxxx

xxxxx xxxxxx

XXX xxxxxxxx

X XXX X

X xxxxxxxx

xxxxx xxxxx

X X

XX X X

XXX X xxxxxx

X

xxxxx

Uncommon

Frequent/Uncorrmon

Frequent in wet season

Frequent. Nestlings

12 April 1979. Adult

carrying food 21 March

1981 .

Uncommon

Frequent in dry season

Frequent/Common

Uncommon

Frequent in wet season

Frequent in late dry

season

Frequent

Uncommon. Song 16 January

1983.

Uncommon

Frequent/Common except

wettest months

Frequent

Uncommon

Frequent. Nest building

I July 1 982 .

Uncommon in Reserve.

Large colony at Pest

House. Nest building

II May 1983.

Frequent/Common when

nesting. Nest building

14 May 1983 .

Frequent. Nestlinqs

12 April 1979. Nest

building 27 May 1978,

25 March 1982, 29 April

1982.

Frequent/Common

Common /Abundant

Uncommon

Frequent

Common /Abundant except

mid rains. Adult carrying

food 20 April 1983.

Uncommon

Frequent

One white-billed, pale-

legged, purple glossed

male in song. Other pale-

winged indigo birds were

seen but not identified

to species

Frequently seen when in

breeding dress

V. orientalis

X

72

r. Wilkinson and R. Beecroft

MALIMBUS 7

Nesocharis capistrata

Amadina f asciata

Pytilia phoenicoptera

Estrilda melpoda

E. troglodytes

E. caerulescens

E. bengala

E. larvata

Lagonosticta senegala

L. rufopicta

L. rara

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

Uncommon

A single record

Frequent in dry season

Frequent

Uncommon

A sinnle record

Fr equen t/Common

Frequent

Common

Frequent

Uncommon

Frequent/Ccrrmon

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 cmerascens,

Falco alopex , Charadrius alexandrinus , C. dubius , C. pecuarius, C. hiaticu a,

Pluvialis squatarola , Tringa stagnatalis , T. totanus , Calidris alpina,

C. ferruginea, C. minuta , Philomachus pugnax , Larus ridibundus, L. cirrocephal

Riparia riparia, Lanius collurio isabellinus , L. senator, Spreo pulcher ,

Acrocephalus arundinaceus .

Crowned Cranes Balearica pavonina near Firqoun, Niger (see p. 79) .

(Photo: R.A. Cheke) .

1985

73

BIRD RECORDS FROM THE- REPUBLIC OF NIGER

by Robert A. Cheke, J. Frank Walsh and Lincoln D.C. Fishpool

Received 22 August 1985

2

The Republic of Niger is a huge country, encompassing 1,187,000 km of West

Africa. Most is desert, the remainder sahel apart from some sudan savanna

vegetation in the south-west. Sites of especial ornithological importance

include the Air massif (the birds of which have been described by Villiers,

1950, and Bruneau de Mire, 1957) the W National Park, and a comer 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 work 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.

Bannerman (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). Prompted by the

request of Giraudoux (1984) , we present here a compilation 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 were seen during field work elsewhere, including brief

journeys to Agadez and the Tahoua and Mar ad i regions described by Cheke

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) .

STRUTH ION I DAE

Struthio camelus Ostrich Not seen by us. Ostriches were common in northern

Niger until the mid 1960's when 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. comm.).

Current status unknown: rumoured to be present still, but rare.

ANHINCIDAE

Anhinga rufa African Darter One at Niamey in Aug 1967.

R.A. Cheke, J.F

. Walsh & L.D.C. Fishpool

MALIMBUS 7

Figure 1 Map and gazetteer of Niger

1985

Republic of Niger

75

PHALACROCORACIDAE

Phal acrocorax 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 were 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 region in

Sept 1984.

Butorides striatus Little Green Heron One near Niamey in Aug 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 11 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 White Eoret 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 Purple 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 2 1 Sept .

A . goliath Goliath Heron One near Bikini in Sept 1984.

A. melanocephala Black-headed Heron A few aloncr the Nicer 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

SCOPIDAE

Scopus umbretta Hammerkop Near Tapaa In Apr 1977 and Sept 1984 and near

Yeri in June 1984.

CICONIIDAE

Cironia ciconia White Stork One 40 km north of Abalak on 7 Oct 1977 and

iwo 10 km north-west of Niamey on 20 Sept 1984 Giraudoux (1978) ^crited

a site 18 km east of Zinder where 500-600 used to over-winter and vThere 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 conxion 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. On

21 June 1977 a pair was nesting 10 m up in a Baobab tree there, bu n

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, mor

than fifty 40 km north of Zinder the next day and a flock of 250 flying eas

8 km west of Bimi N'konni on 9 Oct and 60 soaring in a thermal 2 bm away.

In July 1978 several active nests were seen between Tillabery and Ayorou.

Earliest record at Niamey was two on 29 Apr 1978 and the latest was four

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

Sn 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. Coimon along the Niger between Tapoa and the Niger

frontier in Apr 1977.

Ephippiorhgnchus senegalensis Saddlebill Stork A pair in the Sirba valley

at 1 3° 1 0 ' N , 01°10'E on 2 Oct 1976. An adult and an limoture near Yen on

5 Apr 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

Threskiomis aethiopica Sacred Ibis On 19 Dec 1976 between 50 and 100

birds roosted on an island in the Niger a few km south of Niamey,

south of Tanout on 5 Oct 1977. TVro near Tillabery and 3 near Ayoroy on 21

Sept 1984. Ten near Ayorou on 23 Sept 1984.

Bostrgchia hagedash Hadada One near Yeri on 5 Apr 1977 and 6 June 1984 .

One at Tapoa on 4 Apr 1977 and another near Ayorou on 23 Sept 1984.

Plegadis falcipellus Glossy Ibis One south of Ayorou on 2 Aug 1978 and 7

flying south at Tounga on 19 Sept 1984.

1985

Republic of Niger

77

MATT DAE

Dendrocygna bicolor Fulvous Whistling Duck Ten near Niamey on 31 July

1977.

D. viduata White-faced Whistling Duck Common along the Niger from the

Nigerian border to Ayorou.

Anas acuta Pintail Four 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 Abalak 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 Corrmon 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 met abates Dark Chantincr Goshawk One 32 km south of Niamey in

Aug 1967. Singles at Dogondoutchi in Aug 1977 and Tagalal in Oct 1977. One

near Garbey-Kourou in Aug and Sept 1984.

Micronisus gabar Gabar Goshavk. One near Tillabery in July 1978.

Kaupif alco monogrammicus Lizard Buzzard Often seen between Gaya and

Dosso.

78

r.A. Cheke, J.F. Walsh & L.D.C. Fishpool

MALIMBUS 7

Buteo auguralis

near Dos so on an

Sept 1984.

Red-tailed Buzzard One near Tagalal on 8 Oct 1977, twa

unrecorded date and one 40 kin west of Garbey-Kourou on 19

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 Inn

south of Tahoua on 9 Oct 1977. Cannon 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 Apr 1977 and another

50 km south of Bani-Bangou in Sept 1977.

Aguila rapax Tawny Eagle One near Yeri in June 1984.

Haliaetus vocifer African Fish Eagle Twd 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 were 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 Uiree in the Niamey area in Aug

1967 and one on 12 June 1977. Recorded from Gaya on 21 June 1977 and 0 Aug

1984. One 30 km south of Tanout on 5 Oct 1977 and another near Tagalal on

8 Oct 1977.

FALCON I DAF,

Falco peregxinus Perecrrine

F. biarmicus Lanner Falcon

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.

SAGITTARI I DAE

Sagittarius serpentarius Secretary Bird One 30 km south of Bani-Bangou

in Sept 1977.

PHASIANIDAE

Francolinus bicalcaratus Double-spurred Firancolin 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

NUMIDIDAE

Numida meleagris Helmeted Guineafowl Abundant between Dosso 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.

GKUIDAE

Balearica pavonina Crowned Crane The 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 melanogaster 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 africana Jacana Very corrmon 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.

BURHINIDAF

Burhinus senegalensis Seneaal Thick-knee One near Illela in Aug 1977 and

ten on an island in the Niger in the Niamey area in Sept 1984.

2HARADRI I DAE

Vanellus albiceps Black-shouldered Wattled Plover Thirty near Niamey in

jAug 1967. Also near Tapoa in Apr 1977, south of Yeri at 12°12'N in June

j 1 984 and near Gotheye in Aug 1984.

t. senegallus Senegal Wattled Plover Seen near Tapoa in July 1984.

v. spinosus Spur -winged Plover Corrmon 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

two days later.

80

r.A. Cheke, J.F. Walsh & L.D.C. Fishpool

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.

SCOLOP AC I DAE

Tringa erg throps Spotted Redshank Two near Firgoun on 23 Sept 1984.

T. nebularia Greenshank One near Firgoun on 23 Sept 1984.

T. hgpoleucos Cormton Sandpiper Beside the Niger River between the Niger lar

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 Raff Thirty flying north along the Niger near Gotheye

on 11 Aug 1984 and 43 seen in the Firgoun area on 23 Sept 1984.

Lirnosa limosa Black-tailed Godwit About 50, beside the Niger, near Gaya

on 5 Apr 1977.

RECURIVORI STRIDAE

dimantopus himantopus Black-Dinged Stilt One 10 km north of Tanout on 5

Oct 1977.

FOSTRATULI DAE

Rostratula benghalensis Painted Snipe A pair at Tapoa on 5 Apr 1977

GLAREOLIDAE

Pluvianus aeggptius Egyptian Plover Corrmn beside the Niger from the

Nigerian frontier to Ayorou.

Cursorius cursor Cream~co loured Courser One 50 km west of Agadez 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 hawking 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 lslan.

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

LARI DAE

Hydroprogne tschegrava Caspian Tern One near Gaya on 5 Apr 1977.

Sterna albifrons Little Tern One at Gaya on 21 June 1977.

S. leucoptera White-winged Black Tern Three flying north up the Niger at

Niamey on 12 Aug 1967 and seven north of Ayorou on 23 Sept 1984.

Rhynchops flavirostris African Skimmer 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- be Hied 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.

COLUMBIDAE

Columba guinea Speckled Pigeon Conuon 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.

S. roseogrisea Pink -headed Dove Garbey-Kourou and Ayorou in Sept 1984.

Bates (1934b) recorded the species at Say.

S. decipiens Mourning Collared Dave At Niamey in Aug 1967 and July 1977.

S. semitorquata Red-eyed Turtle Dove At Niamey in Aug 1967 and at Tapoa

in Apr 1977.

5. senegalensis Laughing Dove Recorded at Ayorou, Dogondoutchi , Gaya,

Niamey and Tapoa.

Turtur abyssinicus Black-billed Wood Dove At Niamey in Aug 1967 and June

1977. At Gaya in June 1977.

Oena capensis Masked Dove Recorded from Tapoa (5 Apr 1977) , Niamey (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-bellied Fruit Pigeon At Tapoa on 5 Apr 1977.

PSITTACIDAE

Poicephalus senegalus Senegal Parrot At Tapoa 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 Turaco 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 Sinqles 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 Striped 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 (Apr 1977) .

CAPRIMULGIDAE

Caprimulgus climacurus Long-tailed Nightjar

Niamey-Ouagadougou road, on both sides of the

1977.

Many flushed from the main

Burkina Faso border on 28 July

Macrodipte ryx longipennis Standard -winged Nightjar About 40 at Niamey

airport on 19 Dec 1969 (D.J. & Y.C. Cheke, pers. corrm. ) . . 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 Corrmon at Niamey in Aug 1967. Also seen at Zmde

(Oct 1977), Yeri (June 1984) and Ayorou (Sept 1984).

COLIIDAE

colius macrourus Blue-naped Mousebird One at Ayorou in July 1978 and five

there in Sept 1984.

i85

Republic of Niger

83

CEDINIDAE

?ry le maxima Giant Kingfisher One at Tapoa on 5 Apr 1977.

rudis Pied Kingfisher Comron along the banks of the Niger from Gaya

) Ayorou. One at a lake 30 km south of Tahoua in Oct 1977.

[cedo cristata Malachite Kingfisher Singles at Tapoa on 5 Apr 1977 and

lya on 21 June 1977.

ilcyon leucocephala Grey-headed Kingfisher Singles at Niamey on 13 Aug

)67 , 12 and 18 June 1977 and 11 July 1977. One near Bimi N'konni on 15

ig 1977.

malimbica Blue-breasted Kingfisher One at Tapoa on 5 Apr 1977.

:kopidae

'rops bulocki Red-throated Bee-eater Singles at Tapoa in Apr 1977, Gaya

i June 1977 and at Ayorou in July 1978.

pusillus Little Bee-eater Common near Niamey in Aug 1967. Six there

i 12 June 1977 and present also on 18 June, 11 and 31 July and 12 Oct, when

ie was netted. The bird's wing length was 73 rim, it was in wing moult,

sighed 14.9 g and no parasites were found in a smear of its blood (Pierce

>84) . On 23 Sept 1984 ten or more roosted in thick vegetation beside the

.ger at Ayorou.

orientalis Little Green Bee-eater Singles at Tapoa (Apr 1977) , Niamey

ug 1977), Bimi N'konni (Aug 1977) and six at Ayorou (Sept 1984).

albicollis White-throated Bee-eater Two at Niamey on 6 Aug 1977 and

ree separate birds near In Gall on 7 Oct 1977.

nubicus Carmine Bee-eater At Tapoa on 5 Apr 1977. Hundreds going to

ost in parties of 20 or 30 at Famale on 21 May 1977. Common at Gaya on 21

me 1977. In 1977 the population foraging from telephone wires beside the

>ad between Dogondoutchi and Bimi N'konni was censused four times: 698

re counted on 12 Aug, 702 on 15 Aug but only 121 on 2 Oct and 139 on 9 Oct.

e Oct birds were all in the section nearest Bimi N'konni. In July 1977

ie species was abundant between Tillabery and Ayorou, where a flock was

■en feeding on first and second instar nymphs of the grasshopper Oedaleus

negalensis (Cheke et al . 1980). One near Torodi on 20 Sept 1984 and at

ri on 6 June 1984. Beside the Mekrou river at 12°05'N a colony of more

an 500 holes, the highest concentration of M. nubicus ever seen by the

server (J.F.W.) , was found on 6 June 1984. Another big colony was seen on

e same date beside the Mekrou at 11°59'N, which is probably the one listed

appendix 4 of Fry (1984) . On the basis that observers travel by road

d in the dry season, Fry surmised that his appendix probably listed only

% of the true number of colonies and estimated that the total population in

rica could be as much as 5 million. Both R.A.C. and J.F.W. have surveyed

ny rivers in West Africa by air and from the ground in the wet season

d have not found many unknown colonies, upon which basis we consider Fry's

gure likely to be an over-estimate.

84

R.A. Cheke, J.F. Walsh & L.D.C. Fishpool

MALIMBUS 7

OORACIIDAE

Coiacias abyssinica Abyssinian Roller Coimon near Niamey in Aug 1967.

In 1977 they were also common 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 Apr 1977, 30 km south-

west of Niamey on 28 Aug 1977 and at Yeri on 6 June 1984.

Eury stomus glaucurus Broad— billed Roller Singles at Gaya (4 Sept 1978 and

10 Aug 1984) and at Kakou on 20 Sept 1984.

PHOEN I CULI DAE

Phoeniculus purpureus Green Wood-hoopoe Three 30 km north of Gaya on 10

Aug 1984.

UPUPIDAE

Upupa epops Hoopoe Singles seen at Eogondoutchi (15 Aug 1977) , Abalak

(7 Oct 1977), Tillabery (15 July 1978) and Ayorou (24 Sept 1984).

BUCEROTIDAE

Tockus erythrorhynchus Red— billed Hornbill Recorded from Ayorou (Sept

1984), Gaya (June 1977), Niamey (Aug 1967) and Tapoa (Apr 1977).

T. nasutus Grey Hornbill Recorded from Ayorou (18 July 1978), 150 km

south of Agadez (5 Oct 1977) , Dogondoutchi (15 Aug 1977) , Niamey (13 Aug

1967), Tanout (5 Oct 1977) and Tapoa (5 Apr 1977 and 11 July 1984).

CAPITGNIDAE

Lybius dubius Bearded Barbet One 45 km north of Gaya in Aug 1984.

L. vieilloti Vieillot's Barbet One at Gaya in Sept 1978.

PICIDAE

Dendropicos goertae Grey Woodpecker 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 White— 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.

HI RUNDIN I DAE

Hirundo smithii Wire-tailed Swallow At Tapoa on 5 Apr 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 Ploreau,

although Bannerman (1939) mentioned it together with 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 Apr 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 Stripe! Swallow Recorded from Gaya (21 June 1977)

and Yeri (6 June 1984).

MOTACILLI DAE

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 (Apr 1977) .

LANIIDAE

Prionops plumata Common 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 barbarus Crimson Boubou More than one present at Yeri in June

1984.

Lanius senator Woodchat Shrike One near Tagalal on 8 Oct 1977.

L excubitor Great Grey Shrike Common in the Agadez area in Oct 1977,

where one was seen chasing two desert locusts ( Schistocerca gregana ) .

Southernmost record: 10 km north of Abalak on 7 Oct 1977.

Corvinella corvina Long-tailed Shrike Recorded at Tapoa (Apr 1977), Torodi

(July 1984) and 30 km north of Gaya (Aug 1984).

1URDIDAE

Oenanthe leucopyga White-runped Wheatear 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

Zinder the next day and several 40 km north-east of In Gall on 7 Oct

of

1977.

Myrmecoci chi a 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 Apr 1977 and 25 km

north of Gaya in Aug 1984.

SYLVIIDAE

Sylvia communis Whitethroat

thebaica) in Cenchrus biflorus

One, singing, amongst Doum palms ( Hyphaene

grassland 5 km south of Mayahi on 3 Oct 1977.

Hippolais pallida Olivaceous Warbler Singles at Tapoa on 5 Apr 19/7 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 197 7.

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 Singies at Niamey on 19

Dec 1969 (D.J. Cheke pers. comm.), Tapoa (5 Apr 1977) and Torodi (11 Ju y

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 Apr 1977), Gaya (22 June

1977) , 40 km north of Tahoua (8 Oct 1977) and at Ayorou (17 and 19 July 1978,

when 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,

where an active colony was noted on 21 Sept 1984.

P. melanocephalus Black -headed Weaver A colony was observed on the west

bank of the Niger opposite Niamey from June to Oct 1977. On the evening of

12 Oct a small sample were mist-netted. Wing lengths of 11 females ranged

from 65 to 72 nm (mean = 67.73; S.D. = 2.57) and of 17 males from 70 to 76

nm (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 immature 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 1984). The species was common 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 Bistop A male near Niamey on 12 Aug 1967.

E. afer Yellow-crowned Bishop Common near Niamey, also noted at Gotheye

(Aug 1984) and Ayorou (Sept 1984).

Quelea quelea Red-billed Quelea Control measures were being taken aaainst

this species at Bani-Rangou on 4 Sept 1977. On 25 Sept 1984 twa flocks of

about 100 birds each were seen 60 km south of Ayorou.

Passer griseus Grey-headed Sparrow Common at Ayorou, Gotheye, Niamey and

Yeri.

Petronia dentata Bush Sparrow At Tapoa in Apr 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 Niamey, Gotheye, Garbey-Kourou and 73 km north of Gaya.

vidua orientalis Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah Males 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-Rleu Near Niamey in Aug 1967 and

at Gaya in June 1977.

Estrilda troglodytes Black-rumped Waxbill Recorded from Gaya (June 1977)

and Gotheye (Aug 1984) .

E. melpoda Orange-cheeked Waxbill Four at Gaya on 4 Sept 1978.

Lonchura malabrica Warbling Silverbill At Tapoa on 5 Api 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 Niamey in Aug 1967

and seen there and at Dogondoutchi in Aug 1977. On 30 May 1978 one was

seen feedina on the grasshopper Oedaleus senegalensis 32 km north of

Tillabery.

DICRURIDAE

Dicrurus adsimilis Glossy— backed Drongo Seen near Gaya.

CORVIDAE

Ptilostomus afer Black Magpie Cannon at Niamey in Aug 1967 and Dec 1969

(D.J. Cheke pers. comm.). Also seen between Gaya and Beylande (Apr-July

1977) .

Corvus ruf icollis Brown— necked Raven Twd 120 km south of Agadez on 5 Oct

1977 and the species was present in Agadez itself, the next day. On 7 Oct

another was seen 40 km west of the town.

1985

Republic of Niger

89

c. albus Pied Crow Cornron. Seen at Abalak, Agadez, Ayorou, Bimi N'konni,

Garbey-Kourou , Gaya, Gotheye, In Gall, Niamey, Say and Tapoa.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank Dr. J.A. Coles 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 seme records.

P. Giraudoux kindly provided some bibliographic information.

SUMMARY

Records of 188 species seen in Niger between 1967 and 1984 are given.

r£sum£

Renseignements sur 188 esp^ces vus au Niger entre 1967 et 1984 sont donnds.

REFERENCES

BANNERMAN, D.A. (1931) Liste des oiseaux obtenus en 1928 par M.G.L. Bates

pendant son voyage du nord de la Nigeria au Sdndgal, a travers le

Soudan Frangais et les territories du Haut-Niger et de la Haute-Volta.

L'Oiseau et R.F.O. no. 12: 594-617

BANNER1AN, 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 French West Africa. Part I. Ibis 13th. series 3: 752-780

BATES, G.L. (1934a) Birds of the southern Sahara and adjoining countries

in FrerchWest Africa. Part II. Ibis 13th. series 4: 61-79

BATES, G.L. (1934b) Birds of the southern Sahara and adjoining countries

in French West 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

l'Air. Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat., Paris 29: 130-135

CASSELTON, P.J. (1984) Breeding birds, pp 229-240 in Clouds ley-Thompson ,

J.L. (ed.) "Sahara Desert". Pergamon Press, Oxford.

CHEKE, R.A. , FISHPOOL, L.D.C. & FORREST, G.A. (1980) Oedaleus senegalensis

(Krauss) (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Oedipodinae) : an account of the 1977

outbreak in West Africa and notes on eclosion under laboratory

conditions. 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

FAIRON, J. (1971) Exploration omithologique au Kaouar (Hiver 1970)

Le Gerfaut 61: 146-161

FAIRON, J. (1975) Contribution S l'omithologie de l'Air (Niger). Le

Gerfaut 65: 107-134

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

GIRAUDOUX, P. (1978) Fang von Weisstorchen auch in Niger. 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 (Algerien, Mali, Niger). Die Vogelwarte 27: 194-202

HARTEFT, E. (1921) The birds collected by Capt. Angus Buchanan during his

journey from Kano to Air or Asben. Novitates Zoologicae 1921: 78-141

HAFTERT, E. (1924) Ornithological results of Cap. Buchanan's second Sahara

expedition. Novitates Zoologicae 1924: 1-48

HEU, R. (1961) Observations omithologiques au Tendrd. L'Oiseau et R.F.O.

31: 214-239

KOENIG, L. (1956) Zum Vorkamnen einiger Sprinte zwischen Tessalit und

Niamey (Franzosich - Westafrika) . Journal fur Omithologie 1956:

384-402

FOSTER, S.H. & GRETTENBERGER , J.F. (1983) A preliminary survey of birds in

W Park, Niger. Malimbus 5: 62-72

PALUDAN, K. (1936) Report on the birds collected during Professor O.

Oluf sen'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) Haematozoa of African birds: some miscellaneous

findings. Afr. J. Ecol. 22: 149-152

PETTET, A. (1984) Migratory birds, pp. 241-250 in Clouds ley-Thompson ,

J.L. (ed.) "Sahara Desert". Pergamon Press, Oxford

PFRIEHM, U. (1981) Beitrag zum Durchzug palaarktischer Vogel in Nord-und

West Afrika. Om. Mitteilungen 33: 65-67

ROUSSELOT, R. (1947) Notes sur la faune omithologique des cercles de

Maradi et de Tanout (Niger fran<jais) . Bull. I.F.A.N. 1947: 99-137

VTLLIERS , A. (1950) Contribution h l'dtude de l'Air. Oiseaux. Mdm.

I.F.A.N. 10: 345-385

Drs R.A. Cheke 5 L.D.C. Fishpool , c/o Tropical Development and

Research Institute , College House, Wrights Lane, London W8 5SJ , UK

1985

91

SEDENTARISATION DE MONTICOLA SOLITARIUS AU CAP DE NAZE, SENEGAL

par Charles Rouchouse

Received 31 December 1984

Revised 11 February 1985

Le Cap de Naze sur la Petite cSte au Sdndgal (14°32'N, 17°06'O) presente un

interdt particulier pour l'avifaune no t airmen t aux pdriodes de passaqes de

la migration. En 1981 , nous avons constate la presence de Monticola

solitarius sur ce massif et poursuivi des observations de 1982 A 1984. En

1983 nous avons mis en Evidence la presence pemanente sur ce site de

quelques sujets et recueilli des indices qui permettent de formuler une

prescription de nidification.

ESQUISSE GfoGRAPHIQUE

Ce secteur de region appartient A une zone de transition situde entre la

presqu'ile du Cap Vert A 1' Quest et 1' inter ieur du pays A 1'Est.

L' altitude est mediocre, 74 metres au point culminant sur le Cap de Naze.

L' arriere-pays se caracterise par des vallonnements et des aff leurements

rocheux. Le rdseau hydrographique est constitud par des thalweos d ' importance

variable. Le cadre morphologique du littoral presente une altemance de

zones basses sableuses et de falaises.

Le climat assez clement sur cette cote est ponctue par 1" altemance d’une

saison humide avec une saison sdche beaucoup plus longue. La pluviometrie

etant le facteur climatique le plus aleatoire.

caractEre du biotope

I/e massif du Cap de Naze d'une superficie de 700 ha, se caracterise par un

important prcmontoire rocheux face A la mer qui s'etend le long de la cote

sur une distance de 1700 metres. Son ensemble structural est constitud

par une sdrie de grds et argiles summon tde par une cuirasse de faciAs

ferrugineux. II forme sur son versant maritime un cahot rocheux rehaussd

au Nord par des falaises irrportantes . Ce massif s'etend a l'Est par un

plateau incline sur l'intdrieur du pays. Une petite vallde separd la

partie maritime de la structure continentale (carte A) .

La couverture vdqdtale s ' inclut dans la zone sahdlo-soudanienne , mais la

degradation actuelle de la vegetation sur ce secteur la place davantacre

dans le domaine sahelien. La strate ligneuse moyenne ou basse est

caracterisde surtout par Acacia nilotica, Acacia segal. La couverture

herbacde est constitude en grande partie par des thdrophytes. On note une

predominance de gramindes comme Schoenefeldia gracilis, Chloris prieurii .

92 C. Fouchouse

' POPINGUlNE"';^

MALIMBUS 7

Yv 1 > , • .

k 1 ' \ - ' . -f

Carte (A) Massif du Cap de Naze: A, Bloc maritime avec les falaises sur

le versant Quest; B, Valine interm^diaire entre le bloc maritime et le

plateau intdrieur. Les plages hachur^es ddfinissent les zones d ’ observation

de Monticola solitar ia .

1985

Monticola solitarius

93

CHRONOLOGIE DES OBSERVATIONS

Monticola solitarius a EtE observe la premiere fois au Cap de Naze, le

31/12/1978 (de Smet et Van Ganpel 1980). Nous avons trouvE quelques

sujets dans ce secteur en fEvrier 1981, observations confirmees jusqu'au

mois de ma.i (Morel, Monnet & Rouchouse 1983) .

Observations en 1982

E quelques F

avec chant

Observations en 1983

janvier

mars

mai

novembre

dEcembre

quelques sujets M et F non appariEs

1 1 observations M et F non appariEs

aprEs le 20/3 l'effectif s'est rEduit

1 F isolEe

5 M et 5 F non appariEs; 1 F perchEe

4 observations M et F non appariEs

- avril

- mai

- juin

- juillet

- aout

- septembre

- octobre

- novembre

- dEcembre

2 F isolEes; 1 couple, chant soutenu, attitude febrile

(23/4)

2 sujets M ou F (?)

3 M

5 M dont 1 sujet juvenile; Evolutions mo ins aisEes sur

les rochers que les adultes (31/7)

1 M juvEnile (12/8)

1 M 2 F

1 M sujet perchE, peu farouche, migrateur (1/10)

1 M juvEnile (15/10)

18 M et F non appariEs, chant soutenu, grande

effervescence; arrivEe migrateurs (30/10)

12 M 3 F; 1 M juvEnile chant soutenu (28/11)

6 observations M et F non appariEs

Observations en 1984

- janvier

- fEvrier

- mars

- avril

- mai

4 M 5 F

6 observations M et F non appariEs

1 couple; transport de dEbris vEgEtaux par sujet M (13/3)

1 couple dans une zone diffErente, chant (13/3)

8 observations M et F non appariEs

2 F; 1 sujet sexe non identifiE

1 F (3/5)

Le graphique B exprime les observations mensuelles obtenues au cours

des annEes 1981 a 1984 illustrant 1' importance de l'effectif a deux pEriodes

caracteristiques de 1'annEe.

COMMENT AIRE

La rEgularitE du passage de Monticola solitarius au Cap de Naze apparait

Evidente mais avec quelques fluctuations. Ce site trEs attractif est

susceptible de favoriser 1 ' implantation de quelques couples. Les

observations de 1983 attestent la prEsence permanente de quelques individus

sur le site et probablement le dEbut d'un processus de sEdentarisation.

C'est avec une grande difficultE que nous avons effectue les observations de

mai a septembre 1983. Ces sujets trEs f arouches , Evoluaient avec

une extreme discrEtion dans les ehoulis et le couvert des broussailles , mais

94

C. Rouchouse

MALIMBUS 7

rarement a d£cx)uvert dans les falaises. Le 30/10/83 nous avons remarqud

une grande animosity entre certains individus . Cette attitude pouvait

correspondre dans la circonstan.ce, a une competition territoriale entre les

quelques sujets residents et les migrateurs qui venaient d'arriver.

Les observations du 23/4 et 31/7/1983 permettent de presumer la

nidification. Les Evolutions d'un couple le 13/3/1984 etaient a cet dgard

tres significatives. La presence de sujets juveniles hors des periodes

de passage, renforce cette presomption : le 31/7/83 un jeune sujet revela

parfaitement les taches blanchatres aux remiges secondaires et couvertures

alaires, caracteristique lide aux jeunes d'aprEs Geroudet.

RESUME

Nous avons observe Monticcla solitarius au Cap de Naze en 1981. De

nouvelles observations furent rdalisEes de 1982 a 1984. L'article presente

les caracteri stiques du biotope et les rEsultats des principales observa-

tions. C'est en 1983 que nous avons constate la presence permanente de cette

espece sur ce site avec des indices qui permettent de presumer 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 c6te

Sdndgalaise en decembre et janvier. Malimbus 2: 56-70

MOREL, G.J., MGNNET, C. & ROUCHOUSE, C. (1983) Donnees nouvelles sur

Monticola solitaria et Monticola saxatilis en S^negambie. Malimbus 5:

1-4

GfiROlTDET, P. (1963) La Vie des Oiseaux. Les Passereaux. Des Mdsanaes

aux Fauvettes. Delachaux et NiestlE. NeuchStel.

C. Rouchouse, ORSTOM , BP 50 Mbcur , S£n£gal

1985

95

PREUSS'S CLIFF SWALLOW HIRUNDO PREUSSI BREEDING IN SIERRA LEONE

by Alan Tve

Received 17 July 1985

Preuss's Cliff Swallow Hirundo ( Petrochelidon ) preussi has a broad range,

extending from Guinea-Bissau and Mali to western Cameroon, tut it is known

to be of local occurrence within that area. Indeed, the record frcm 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 (Lamarche 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 groups of Hirundo preussi , including

two breeding colonies, in the Guinea savanna zone of north-east Sierra

leone c. 400 km from Guinea-Bissau and 500 km from breeding areas in Mali.

On 6 April 1984, two colonies of Preuss's Cliff Swallow were found less

than 15 km apart on the road between Falaba and Gberia Timbako at

aDproximately 09°48'N, 11°15'W (altitude c. 400 m) . The birds were buildinci

nests in culverts under the road; one culvert was small and difficult of

access but birds could be seen collecting mud frcm pools along a near -dry

watercourse 20 m away. The other was accessible and contained the foun-

dations of at least 50 nests, some nearly complete with downward-pointing

funnels. About 50 pairs of Preuss's Swallow attended this site, along with

two or three pairs of I<esser Striped Swallow Hirundo abyssinica.

They were seen clearly in flight and while collecting mud frcm the

ground, at distances of less than 20 m. The following diagnostic

identification features were noted: upperparts, including crown, glossy black,

chestnut-red streak behind eye; rump sandy-brown, tail dark brown or blade

with white 'mirrors' (visible in birds on a photooraph 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

Roughwinas Psalidoprocne obscura. No evidence of breeding was seen at this

site.

10 April 1984, at elevation 1660 m on Mt Bintumani, Loma 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 Swallows Hirundo rustics, Lesser Striped Swallows and Mottled.

Swifts Apus aequator ialis . Aoain, no evidence of breeding was seen here

although suitable sites are present in the area.

Preuss's Cliff Swallow 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 nestinq 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 omitholocists to have visited the area

previously.

REFERENCES

ASHFORD, R.W. (1968) Preuss's Cliff Swallow Lecgthoplastes 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) Mare bird records from the Republic of Togo. Malimbus

4: 55-62

LAMARCHE, B. (1981) Liste comrnent^e des oiseaux du Mali, deuxi&me partie:

Passereaux. Malimbus 3: 73-102

Dr Alan Tye, 2 School Lane, King's Ripton, Huntingdon , Cambridgeshire ,

PE 17 2NL, UK

1985

97

PROGRESSIVE IMPROVEMENT IN FORAC-ING EFFICIENCY OF JUVENILE

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 reoular visitor to the Sundays

River Valley, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, in the austral summer.

It usually makes its first appearance in the Sundays River Valley in

January, but has been recorded in November and December (C. Niven pers.

corrm. , 1985) and aathers in pre-miqrational roosting flocks and departs in

early March (Marais & Every 1982, Marais 1984) .

In 1983/1984 the flock of c. 50 European Bee-eaters at Moyeni

(33°37’S, 25038'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 information on foraging

efficiency of juveniles (C. H. Fry in litt. , 1984). This flock provided

an opportunity to observe the development of foraging efficiency and

independency in juvenile European Bee-eaters.

METHODS

Observations were made on a flock of c. 33 juvenile and 17 adult bee-eaters

in the study area on four days between 4 January 1984 and 27 February 1984,

prior to the birds' departure on 5 March 1984. Two types of foraaina

behaviour were observed: (1) individual foraging sallies from the perch,

which will 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 foraaina

flight was regarded as successful where one or more prey items were taken

while on the wina 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 was 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 roostina site in the early rromina and returned

98

W.C. Marais and B. Every

MALIMBUS 7

durina the eveninq. The most frequent foragina 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 ringed birds it is not

oossible to ascertain that. Although all observations were conducted on

individual foraging flocks, cursory observations of birds feeding at the

roost site showed feeding behaviour similar to that observed at the

foraging areas.

Table 1 Foraging success rates of four juvenile European Bee eaters

Table 2 Foraging success rates of two adult European Bee-eaters

Although not quantified, a qualitative assessment of relative foraging

ability suggested that young birds spent longer in flight pei prey item

taken. Adults took up to three prey items per foraging flight The lower

efficiency of juveniles may be a function of poorer flying abili y an , 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 to 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. While the young birds were left alone they foraged

by means of perch sallies , always landing to process the prey before

swallowing it.

1985

Bee-eater foraging efficiency

99

Fionre 1 FOragina efficiencies of adult ( M 1 and juvenile (@) European

Bee-eaters, and numbers 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 were

seldom left unattended but became an integral part of the entire foraaina

system. Incidents of adults feedina juveniles became rare and were

possibly more socially significant as the young birds' foraging ability

approached that of the adults.

DISCUSSION

It is clear from Fig. 1 that foraging efficiency of juvenile European Pee

eaters improves progressive lv, while that of adults remains constant. The

improvement of juvenile foragina efficiency was most dramatic over the

period 4-10 January, when it doubled from 23% to 46%. It suagests that the

early period is critically important for young birds to attain a level of

foraaina efficiency enablina them to achieve energy reserves for mi oration,

and allowino adults enouoh time to pursue the same goal without having to

spend too much time feeding the youna. 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 amono juveniles be

attained to enable them to sustain themselves while on migration.

FEEDING VISITS/HOUR

100

W.C. Marais and B. Every

MALIMBUS 7

The period from 10 January to 27 February showed a more linear improve-

ment in foraqinq efficiency. Extrapolation of adult and juvenile curves in

Fig. 1 sugqests that they v.ou Id converqe on 5 March, which was the date of

departure. Thus it seems that the birds emiqrate as soon as juveniles

achieve the same foraging efficiency as adults. In the event of the younq

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.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank Dr G. J. B. Poss of the Port Elizabeth Museum for advice,

discussion and assistance with this project and for reading the draft. We

are also indebted to Dodi Marais for typing the manuscript and preparing

the fiqure.

REFERENCES

CHANDLER, M. & EVERY, B. (1984) An overwintering European Bee-eater.

Bee-eater 35: 19

FRY, C.H. (1984) The Bee-eaters. South Africa: Russel Friedman Book

Enterprises (Pty.) Ltd.

MARAIS, W.C. (1984) Pre-minrational roostina 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.O. 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 OUTAMBA AREA , NORTHWEST 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. Outamba (Fig. 1, 1) is an area of 740 kmI 2 at 09°35'-55' N,

1 1°55'-12o30'W; Kilimi (2) covers an area of 240 km2 at 09°43'N, 12°32'W.

I used the park headquarters as a base during my 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 which 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 Man 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 , Peabody Museum, Harvard University , Cambridge , MA 02138, USA

102

NOTES

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1985

103

THE SPECIES OF PARASITIC FINCHES IN WEST 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; Payne Croschupf 1984; Payne & Payne 1977), certain reports

have continued to use the more readily available names from Bannerman (1953)

and Mackworth-Praed & Grant (1973). Pecent avifaunal reports in Ma limbus

have used the older terms with the result that even with extensive corres-

pondence it is impossible 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 surrmary 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; Williams &

Keith 1962; Benson & Pitman 1964). Unlike the viduine finches, the youna

have an unmarked mouth lining (Benson & Pitman 1964). Pecent 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; Thiollav 1985; Malzy 1962; Elgood 1982; Iouette 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 aenera, Steganura

for the paradise wiiydahs, Hypochera for the indiaobirds or ccmbassous, 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 whydahs of Africa include four soecies, three in West Africa.

The details of differentiation between two of them (inter jecta and togoensis)

have yet to be worked out.

The widespread Paradise Whydah' v. paradisaea mimics the song and parasitizes

the nests of the Melba Finch Pytilia melba (only one species of Melba Finch

is recoonized; Wolters 1977). The male whydahs living in the sahel and

neighbouring habitats from Senegal eastward to the Ethiopian plateau are

shorter-tailed in breeiina plumage than the whydahs of east and southern

104

B.B. Payne

MALIMBUS 7

Africa that parasitize the same species. The few specimens from areas

where the two morns meet in eastern Sudan and northeastern Ethiopia appear

intermediate in tail length and wing length, although comparison is prob—

lematic because the specimens are worn and details of tail shape are

unclear. Other authors (Traylor 1968; Hall & Moreau 1970) have considered

some of these to be hybrids of other forms of whydahs. The boundary

between the short-tailed and long-tailed forms of V. paradisaea does not

seem to coincide with the boundary between red-lored and crrey-lored forms

of p. melba (for subspecies descriptions see bolters 1963, 1977; van den

Elzen & Koenig 1983) . Because those two forms of whydah appear to be con-

specific, the western birds occurring from Senenal to Nigeria are a sub-

species (V. p. aucupum) as is the form 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 Whydah of Africa south of the

Equator, is a brood-parasite of the Orange-winged Pytilia Pytilia afra

(Nicolai 1964; Payne 1971). It is not conspecific with the West African

V. paradisaea orientalis or V. p. aucupum, as suggested by the names in

Bannerman (1948) and Mackworth-Praed & Grant (1973), tut is a distinct

species.

The other West African paradise whydahs are the Toco Paradish Whydah

V. togoensis and the Uelle Paradise whydah V. inter jecta (common names from

Bannerman 1949). Males in breeding plumage have very Iona tails, >270 mm

in length) . Male togoensis have narrow tails (width of the long rectrices

<30 mm), male interjects 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 inter jecta 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 Ped-winoed Pytilia Pytilia phoenicoptera north

in drier woodlands and the Yellow-winged Pytilia P. hypograrmica further

south in more mesic woodlands (Hall & Moreau 1970; Louette 1981) .

The two live together in the same reaion in some areas (louette 1981;

Elgood 1982). The map in Hall & Moreau (1970) gives the impression that

the whydahs split geographically west to east, rather than south to north.

The rrore 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, 11°33'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

(RMNH; Bannerman 1949). Serle's (1949) observations of "aucupum" in

Sierra Leone probably refer to togoensis . P. hypograrmica 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, (now7 in BMNH) of inter jecta .

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

Banvo (6°45\N, 11°49'E). On 1 November 1980 I saw both kinds of whydahs

alona the road from Tibati (6°28'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

P.B. Payne

MALIMBUS 7

Inter jecta were seen near each town; narrovr-tailed birds apparently

toooensis were seen in the mere densely wooded country about halfway .between.

This appears to be the first known site where interjects and togoensis live

toqether , and suggests that two species are indeed involved. Both P.

phoenicoptera and P. hypogrammica occur in northern Cameroon in the Adamawa

region (Louette 1981).

Nicolai (1977) studied Pytilia hypograrmica and found nests parasitized

by V. togoensis near Enugu, southeastern Nigeria. Adult male whydahs

mimicked' the songs of P. hypograrmica and the youno nestlings mimicked the

beagina calls of this foster species. In an earlier note, Serle (1957) 1

a nest of P. hypograrmica near Enugu that was parasitized by the local whydah.

Serle's specimens (AMNH 765522, RMNH 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 worn hut has a slender tail (23 mm) •

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 m Mole National

Park, Ghana, in October 1985, near Zaria, Niaeria, from July to September

1968, and in Yankari National Park, Nigeria, m November 1980. In all of

these localities the common pytilia is P. phoenicoptera (G reig 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.

hypograrmica has been observed at Mole (Greig-Smith 1976) .

Specimens of male interjects in breeding plurage are known from Guinea

(Cercle de Faranah) , Mali (Bamako, Kaulikoro ) , Ghana (Mole N.P.),

Nigeria (Karu, Enugu - see above, Yola 157 km NW, Zaria 8 km NW) , Cameroon

(Tibati 40 mi NF.) , Chad (Banda, Bahr Keela - this form?) , Central African

Republic (Gaza, Nola-Mbaiki - type locality, Fort Situt ;Bozoum) , Zaire (Garai

P.N., Gangala-na-Bodio , Faradje) , Sudan (Poma, Logoforok) , and Ethiopia

(Bimb, Borraga Kokolate, Baro-Bonga Fork) .

Field identification of male whydahs 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 a nc

aucupum from interjects and togoensis ) are risky, as early m the breeding

season many birds are in breeding plumage except for the long rectrices

which are the last to complete growth: some apparently short tailed bird,

may be growing longer tails. In addition, rales sometimes lose their long

second rectrices while retaining the shorter, more pointed and broader

first rectrices, making them appear shorter-tailed than when mconplete

plumage . The same is true in museum specimens: Bates (1933) distinguished

togoensis as having display rectrices no wider than 25 nm and inter jec a

as wider than 25 mm; are based on the tail of its natural shape; my

correspondincr measurement of 30 nm is based on a flattened tail.

Questions remain about the whydah 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 Mbaiki in the Central African Republic) , and in

this general area the mare 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 sympatry? To add

to our understanding of the whydahs it would be helpful to distincruish 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 larae 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 warks; 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 Test 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 mast 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. wilsom (Payne 1982).

V. wilsoni, Wilson's Indigobird, extends through most of the range of

its foster species, the Bar-breasted Firefinch L. rufopicta. Males m

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 West 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 by 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 soncs 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. Audiospectroorams 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 ranae 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 western Ethiopia (Gambela) as well (USNM 568295) .

v. wilsoni includes as a synonym " Hypochera lorenzi (Nicolai 1972) .

108

P.B. Payne

MALIMBUS 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, which 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 complex pattern

(Payne 1973, 1982). Males mimic the songs and calls of their foster species,

L. rubricata . Females are indistinguishable in size and plumage from 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 Cameroon (Banyo) and in Sierra Leone (Kabala)

to bluish-green in Ghana (Mole National Park) , the only localities where

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 Niaeria, rancred 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 whether 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 whether they develop into the kinds of adults

that mimic the songs of the same foster species.

1985

Parasitic finches

109

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MALIMBUS 7

All five species are known to live in immediate synpatry with distinctive

behaviour and morphology with at least one other species, and to main m

their local identity. For example at Banyo, Cameroon, all blue males

^k^Se songs of L. rubricata, all green males numucked the songs of

L. rara, and all purplish males mimicked L. rufopicta (Payne 1982, Payne &

Groschupf 1984) . At Panshanu, Nigeria, all blue males mimcked L larva

and all* green males mimicked L. rubricata. The combination of different

male plumages in coexisting regulations of indigobirds with different foster

species song mimicry, 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 " nigeiiae " were dropped because of

doubt to which kinds of indigobirds the type specimens applied. The type of

^earner uueasis " was collected betv^en Nola and Mbaiki in the southern Central

African Republic. The firefinches 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

pitmageUike "camerunensis") are known that mimic each of these firefinch

species , it is doubtful that "camerunensis" can be applied critically to any

oS of then. The name camerunensis is a nomen dubium and it was considered

desirable to drop its use and necessary to describe two new species {V

raricola , V. larvaticola ) (Payne 1982). A similar aroument appliesto the

use of the name "nigeriae" , because some green indicobirds in Nigeria and

neighbouring Cameroon mimic L. rubricata , others mimic L. rara, an s l

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 impossible to determine that it goes with one or another kind of

indigobird .

Vidua macroura

Pin-tailed Whydahs Vidua macroura are widespread in West Africa from Senegal

eastwards to Sudan and also are common in eastern and southern Africa m

errassy habitats. The males differ from the other West African viduines

song, which appears not to mimic 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 sf/eral wax) bills of

the genus Estrilda in West Africa, including the Common Wa^-ll E- ast rl1 '

Black-rumped Waxbill E . troglodytes and Orange-cheeked Waxbill E. me po a.

All these waxbills have young with nearly identical mouth patterns an.

colours, and the juvenile V. macroura that I have seen all have the same

appearance. V. macroura may also parasitize other species, tut the evidence

is not definite. They feed with Orange-breasted Waxbill E tat

the young of this waxbill have a cream-coloured mouth and lack the colours

of the other known way-bills. Young have also been seen feeding with family

groups of Bronze Mannikins Lonchura cucullata but young mannikins have a

horseshoe-pattern in the mouth and not the spots characteristic o e

waxbills. I know of no nestling whydahs in the nest of a mannikin. The

association of young viduines with family croups of finches is no

definitive evidence' of parasitism as the young viduines may join any snail

group of finches. These records (e.g. Macdonald 1980) are quest lona e,

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 where V. macroura

1985

Parasitic finches

111

occurs would 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. astiild is parasitized as the only foster species in parts of

southern and eastern Africa, and the occurrence of this species with

v. macroura on Bioko (Fernando Po) suggests local parasitism, though

E . nonnula occurs there as well. E. melpoda is the common waxbill at Mole

National Park and its habitat matches that of the local v. macroura (Greig-

Smith 1976) , and it is probably the local foster species. In the other

West African localities where I found V. macroura I saw both the Orange-

cheeked 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 northwsstem Zambia. Local studies

are needed to determine the brood parasitism of the whydahs in West Africa.

rpp0 breeding displays of V. macroura have been described in northern Ghana

(Shaw 1984) .

ACKNa^LEDGEMENTS

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 work 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, Museum 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

BENSON, 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,

Niaeria: their abundance and seasonal occurrence. Malimbus 3: 103-114

FRIEDMANN, 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 composition and habitat preferences of the

avifauna of Mole National Park, Ghana. Nigerian Orn. Soc. Bull. 12.

49-66

LOUETTE, M. (1978) Contribution to the omitholocry of Liberia (part 4) .

Rev. Zool. Afr. 92: 639-643

LOUETTE, 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

MACDONALD , M.A. (1980) Observations on Wilson's Widowfinch and the

Pintailed Whydah 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 h l'dtude dynamique de la population de

Lagonosticta senegala L. (estrildides) h Richard— Toll (S^ndgal) .

Interrelations avec le parasite Hypochera chalgbeata (Muller)

(viduinds) . Mem. Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, SSr. A.

Zool. 78: 1-156

NICOLAI, J. (1964) Der Brutparasitismus der Viduinae als ethologisches

Problem. Z. Tierpsychol. 21: 129-204

NICOLAI, J. (1968) Wirts vogelbez iehungen der Hypochera- Pormen camerunensis

und nigeriae . Naturwiss 55: 654

NICOIAI, J. (1972) Zwei neue Hypocher a -Arten aus West Afrika (Ploceidae,

Viduinae). J. Om. 113: 229-240

NICOLAI, J. (1977) Der Rotmaskenastrild ( Pytilia hypogrammica) als Wirt

der Togo-Paradieswitwe ( Steganura cogoensis) . J. Orn. 118: 175-188

NICOLAI, J. (1982) Comportement , voix et relations de parents de

1 1 Amaranths 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 whydas Vidua paradisaea and V. obtusa of

southern and eastern Africa, with notes on differentiation of the

fonales . 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. Misc. Publ. Univ. Mich. Museum of Zoology 162.

PAYNE,, R.B. & GROSCHUPF, K.D. (1984) Sexual selection and interspecific

competition : a field experiment on territorial behavior of nonparental

finches ( Vidua spp.). Auk 101: 140-145

PAYNE, R.B. & LOUETTE, M. (1983) What is Lagonosticta umbrinodorsalis

Reichenow 1910? Mitt. Zool. Museum Berlin 59, Ann. Orn. 7: 157-161

1985

Parasitic finches

113

PAYNE, R.B. & PAYNE, K. (1977) Social organization and mating success in

local song population of Village Indigobirds, Vidua chalybeata. Z.

Tierpsychol. 45: 113-173

SEKLE, W. (1949) Birds of Sierra Leone (part IV). Ostrich 20: 114-126

SHAW, P. (1984) The social behaviour of the Pin-tailed Whydah vidua

macroura in northern Ghana. Ibis 126: 463-473

THIOLLAY, J.-M. (1985) The birds of Ivory Coast: status and distribution.

Malimbus 7: 1-59

TRAYLOR, 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. & KCNIG, 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

WOLTERS, H (1963) Zur Rassengliederung von Pytilia melba (L.). J. Orn.

104: 185-190

WOLTERS, H.E. (1977) Uber die westafrikanischen Rassen des Buntastrilds ,

Pytilia melba (L.) (Aves , Estrildidae) . Bonn. Zool. Beitr. 28: 324-

330

Dr. P.B. Payne, Museum of Zoology , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor,

Michigan 48109, USA

114

NOTES

MALIMBUS 7

DECOUVEPTE D'UN NQUVEL AICLE FORESTIER AU SENEGAL L'AIGLE D' AYRES Hieraaetus

duhius - J'avais dtd intrigud £ diverses reprises depuis plusieurs anndes par

1 ' observation d' aisles tr£s foncds au Parc national de Basse Casamance. II

pouvait s'aair d ' immatures de Petits Serpentaires Polyboroides radiatus et

d'Aiqles fascies Hieraaetus spilogaster . Mais ces oiseaux dtant observes

dans de mauvaises conditions dans un milieu forestier dense et surtout trop

rapidement, il n'dtait pas possible de determiner surement l'espdce h laquelle

ils appartenaient .

Or la chance a voulu que dans la joumde du 28.03.85 lors d'une tournee

de prospection en compagnie du conservateur du pare, 1'Ingdnieur des Travaux

Bertin Coly, nous puissions observer l'un de ces aigles foneds, dans de bonnes

conditions, la premiere fois posd, en lisidre, la deuxidme fois a vol. Ia

taille, les barres de la queue, la oouleur qdndrale chocolat foned tant au-

dessus qu'audessous et sans dessins ni contrastes ainsi que 1' habitat nous

incitdrent d identifier cet oiseau comrne un Aiqle d! Ayres, de la phase sombre.

Le rapprochement avec. les aiales avec lesquels il pouvait etre confondu tels:

l'Aigle bottd, plus petit, l'Aigle ravisseur, plus grand, mais vivant en

milieu savanicole et bien connu in nature notarmnent au Niokolo les dlimindrent

de la competition. Restaient les sub-adultes de H. spilogaster semblablement

de la mdme taille que notre oiseau mais prdsentant un plumage contrastd, rnerne

dans la phase sombre, et des dessins sous les ailes.

Pour conclure, cette ultime foret primaire qu’est le Parc national de

Basse Casamance au Senegal recdle encore des espdees animales tres infeoddes

au milieu forestier dense que ce soit pour les primates avec la Mone de

Campbell ne vivant que Id au Sdndgal, certains insectes relietuels notamment

pour les papillons, et plusieurs oiseaux strietement forestiers comme le

Calao e casque ^aune, l'Aigle couronnd et maintenant l'Aigle d' Ayres.

Direction des Parcs Nationaux, B.P. 5135, Dakar, Senegal A.R. EXrpuy

T,7ESTERN REEF HERON Egretta gularis INLAND IN IVORY COAST AND NIGERIA — In

February 1985 I saw a dark -phase Western reef heron Egretta gularis on a

qolf course pond at Yamoussoukro, 06°49'N 05°17'W, Ivory Coast. The

location is some 200 km inland. In June 1985 I encountered another at a

lake in Ibadan University Campus, 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) .

8904 Harem Place, Annandale , Va. 22003, USA Stephen D. Eccles

1985

115

LES OISEAUX DES MILIEUX ROCHIUX AU S£n£GAL

par Gbrard J. Morel

Peceived 23 February 1985

Le Sbnbgal a la reputation incontestbe d'etre un pays plat. Les points

culminants des contreforts du Fouta-Djalon au Senegal oriental dbpassent h

peine 400 metres. Ces hauteurs sont concentrbes le lone de la frontibre,

aux confins guineo-maliens .

Actuellement, seule la barribre rocheuse au sud-ouest de Kbdougou

(secteur Sbgou-Dinndbfblou) , zone structurale de transition entre le

Sbnbqal et la Guinbe et les massifs situbs & 1'ouest de Kbdougou (secteur

Bandafassi, Ibel, Ndbbou) ont fait 1'objet de recherches systbmatiques .

Cette zone rbgionale 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 gbographiques sont inclus dans une

vaste region naturelle caractbrisbe au sud de Kbdougou , par la partie nord

du massif de Mali, partie intbgrante du massif montagneux du Fouta-Djalon,

et un peu a 1' ouest de Kbdougou , par une zone de relief tabulaire

apparaissant en quelque sorte comme une sbrie de buttes -tbmoins du massif

de Mali.

La limite septentrionale du massif de Mali est marquee par une premiere

ligne de falaises grbseuses orientbes sensiblement est-ouest, au pied

desquelles sont situbes les localitbs de Pblel Kindessa, Dinndbfblou, Sbgou.

Ces falaises sont constitutes par des arts du prbeambrien (formation dite

de Sbgou -Madinakouta) qui dominent le socle birrimien. En abordant cette

formation A Sbcrou, A la cote 200, (piste Kbdougou-Mali) et aprbs avoir

franchi une zone d'bboulis, sur une hauteur de 70 A 100 m environ, nous

observons jusqu'en haut de la falaise des grbs durs roses ou blancs ;

quelques petites passbes de grbs tendres et grbs fins sont inters tratif ides

dans cet ensemble. Certains marigots franchissent les falaises par une

succession de cascades dont certaines sont spectaculaires , leur bcoulement

s'effectue parfois dans des zones d'brosion ou de dbmantblement dont les

excavations prennent souvent des allures de gorges trbs pittoresques . Le

franchis semen t de ce premier ressaut, souvent difficile, en progressant

vers le sud, permet d'atteindre une c6 te d* altitude moyenne de 400 m.

Ensuite on s'blbve par une sbrie de gradins et de plans faiblement inclines

recouverts de latbrite, pour atteindre finalement un plateau terminal

culminant A 1538 m un peu au nord-est de Mali en Guinbe.

Au nord de la falaise de Pblel Kindessa, Dinndbfblou et Sbaou s'btend.

une vaste plaine plus ou moins latbritisbe sur un substratum de mranites et

micaschistes d'Sge birrimien, une sbrie de collines vient rompre la

monotonie de cette plaine. A 15 km a 1' ouest de Kbdouaou , b peu pres sur

le mbme parallble, la piste Kbdougou-Salbmata horde un relief composb de

petits massifs tabulaires constitubs par des formations primaires que

protege de l'brosion un "toit" de dolbrite. Au pied de cette falaise, des

bancs de cipolins foment de petits reliefs b facibs ruiniformes. Le point

culminant de ces massifs atteint la cote de 375 mbtres sur le plateau

d ' Etibs .

116

G.J. Morel

MALIMBUS 7

Le Sbnbgal oriental et ses confins imnbdiats possedent un climat sahblo-

soudanien qui n'est pas uniforme, les regions en altitude ont un climat

special. D'une fagon gbnbrale, on peut distinguer trois saisons, saison

sbche et chaude de mars b juin, saison des pluies de juin b octobre.

Dans ce secteur de rbgion, en s'acheminant vers le sud, aprbs la steppe

arbustive, on parvient progress ivement b la savane boisbe. Les bpineux

sont subordonnbs aux figuiers ( Ficvs glumosa, Ficus lecardii) aux faux

Kapokier ( Bombax costatum ) , au Fromager ( Ceiba pentandra ) , au Karitb

( Butyrospermum parkii) , au Tamar inier ( Tamarindus indica ) ainsi qu'aux

bambousaies ( Bawbusa sp) . Le lecteur trouvera dans Adam (1965) une

description sorrmaire mais suggestive de la vbgbtation de Dinndbfblou.

Le tapis herbacb est formb par des graminees, des cypbracees et des

papilionacbes . Sur les cretes orbseuses on observe des euphorbiacbes . Les

"bowes", plateaux couverts d'une cuirasse latbritique, sont dbpourvus de

couverture vbgbtale pendant la saison seche; b la suite des premieres

pluies, ces surfaces se recouvrent d'un fin gazon vert. Autour des rivibres

et des marigots poussent de minces galeries forestibres, sur les marigots on

observe gbnbralement des peuplements de Palmiers raphias (Raphia sp) et de

Roniers ( Borassus flabellifer) .

Du point de vue de 1 'omithologie, cette rbgion est rebutante car les

voies d'accbs y sont rudimentaires (la route bitumee s'arrbte au Parc du

Niokolo-Koba) . Au-delb de Kbdougou, le vbhicule tous terrains est

indispensable sur la plupart des chemins.

Espbces observbes

Neophron percnopterus Percnoptbre d'Egypte Le 19 mars 1972, une femelle

avait btb capturbe prbs du poste-frontibre de Sbgou; avec des ovules de

8 mm, elle btait incontestablement sur le point de pondre. Plusieurs autres

Percnoptbres avaient btb vus dans les environs. En mars 1984, un sen] sujet

fut apergu dans toute la rbgion. Les sites favorab1.es d la nidification ne

sont pas rares dans les massifs mais aucun emplacement de nid ne fut repbrb.

II est done impossible de prbeiser si la reproduction b lieu en degS ou

au-delb de la frontibre. La femelle collectbe constitue le seul indice de

nidification probable au Sbnbgal. On ne dispose d'aucune donnbe sur la

Guinbe ou les sites rocheux ne manquent pas. Par ailleurs, on sait que les

Percnoptbres palbarctiques traversent le Sahara et hivement au Sahel (Viorel

et Roux 1966) .

Falco alopex Faucon-renard Ce faucon avait dbjb btb observb par Thiollay,

J-M. (sans date) puis par Gbroudet, P. (com pers) en janvier 1981 au Parc de

Niokolo-Koba. En Gambie, on disposait aussi d'une observations de mai 1957,

Moyenne Vallbe, de Cawkell (1965). En mars-avril 1984, 2 ou 3 sujets

bvoluaient prbs des massifs rocheux au sud de Kbdouaou. Ce sont les seuls

signalements dont on dispose pour l'espece qui ne parait gubre s'bloigner

des rbgions accidentbes.

Columba livia Pigeon biset Sous sa race gymnocyclus , trbs sombre, presque

noire (sauf le croup ion blanc) ce biset semble tres rare au Senegal. Lowe,

W.P. , au dbbut du sibcle, le trouva sur les lies de la Madeleine au large

de la presqu'lle du Cap-Vert ou il semble s'btre maintenu depuis, ou du

mo ins aux environs, car Ndao, B. (com pers) en observa quelques-uns dans

les rochers de la c6te b Fann (Dakar) . Sur les lies (Madeleine, Goree) il

ne semble pas y avoir d ' observation rbcente irrbcusable.

1985

Mileux rocheurs au Senecial

117

D' autre part, une petite colonie existait en 1973 au villaae de NdandA,

au sud de KAbAmer, sur la route Dakar-Saint-Louis ; elle occupait. deux

vastes puits dAsaffectAs. Trois specimens furent collects et, malgrA les

risques de croisement avec les pigeons du village, leur phenotype Atait pur.

La colonie n'a pas AtA revisitee. D'autres puits du meme genre existent

peut-etre 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

paturaient, mAlAs A une cinquantaine de Columba guinea , pres du village de

DandA, 30 km au SO de KAdougou , fin mars 1984. Nous ne revlmes pas ces Bisets

au cours de notre sAjour dans la region. Mais Dupuy, A.R. (com pers) , peu

aprAs notre visite les trouva en nombre considerable dans la gorge de

DinndAfAlou. Rappelons que le Biset est commun dans les milieux rocheux

qui sont bien represented en Mauritanie (Dekeyser et Villiers 1950; Y.

Prevost, com pers) et au Mali (Lamarche 1980-1981).

Hirundo rupestris Hirondelle de Rochers Une isolAe fut collectAe a

mi-chemin entre Richard-Toll et Saint-Louis sur une villa, le 15 novembre

1967. Du 13 decembre 1972 au 8 fAvrier 1973, deux hirondelles sA-

joumerent £ Saint-Louis sur le n£me bAtiment (Ndao in Marel et Roux 1973) .

Et du 16 au 18 dAcembre 1973 F. Roux, (com pers) en observa deux pres des

batiments de l'aeroport de Dakar-Yoff. Nous ecrivions en 1973 que les

Hirondelles de Rochers observAes au Senegal devaient etre des AgarAes,

puisque l'aire normale d'hivemage est situAe dans le nord-ouest maghrAbin.

Or, les observations de Rouchouse, C. et Monnet, C. dans les falaises de

Popenguine au sud de Dakar, nous amenent a penser qu'une partie de la

population hiveme sans doute en zone cruinAenne et laisse au passage des

sujets isolAs au SAnAgal (Rouchouse, C. en preparation) .

Aucune Hirondelle de Rochers ne fut apergue en mars 1984 mais A cette

date le depart de printemps devait avoir eu lieu.

Hirundo fuligula ( Ptgonoprogne rufigula) Hirondelle isabellme Nous

avions tentA en vain de collecter des hirondelles inidentifiAes le 20 mars

1972 dans la gorge de DinndAfAlou, mais ce pouvait Atre des H. rupestris ,

car nous Ations peu familier avec ce groupe. En juillet 1982, notre

collogue Rouchouse, C. retrouva ces hirondelles mais perdit 1 "exemplaire

abattu. Enfin, fin mars 1984, 3 specimens furent collectAs dans cette mAme

gorge. II s'agit bien de 1'espAce fuligula , au dessus trAs sombre et 6

la gorge roussatre, bien distincte de H. rupestris et aussi de H. fuligula

obsoleta, race saharienne, col lectAe dans l'Adrar par Dekeyser et Villiers

(1950). Ces 3 specimens, examines au British Museum (Tring) sont comparables

a ceux de la race bansoensis . Souvent apergue du pied d'une falaise, cette

espAce qui chasse haut peut Atre difficile A identifier avec certitude. II

y avait plusieurs dizaines de ces hirondelles. Aucun nid ne fut dAcouvert

et il ne semblait pas y avoir d' activity de reproduction. Cette colonie est

la premiere dAcouverte au SAnAgal et la plus occidentale A cette latitude.

Ongchognathus morio Etoumeau roupenne d' Alexander Assez curieusement ,

quelques individus avaient dAjA AtA signalAs loin de tout milieu adAquat:

1 sujet entre Matam et Bakel sur un Ficus en avril 1964 (GJM et F. Roux) ;

2 sujets A 50 km A l'est de Dakar, observes par R. I,achner, (com pers)

familier avec 1' espAce le 5 fAvrier 1983, et une petite bande en foret de

Basse-Casamance le 19 aout 1982 (A. Sala, com pers). On doit admettre que

cet Etoumeau nomadise largement. Le site de DinndAfAlou, au contraire par

ses parois verticales, son humidity qui entretient une foret dense avec

Ficus parait convenir A 1' espAce et nous l'y avons observee par dizaines:

sujets se nourrissant de figues dans la for At couvrant le fond de la crorae,

118

G.J. Morel

MALIMBUS 7

accrochds aux parois ou se baignant dans la chute d ' eau , sur le plateau

boisd qui domine la faille profonde. Cette espdce existe dans le sud-est

mauritanien, l'Assaba (Browne 1981) et au Mali (Lamarche 1981).

Cercomela familiar is Traquet de roche d queue rousse. Ce n'est pas une

espdce strictement saxicole et nous l'avons aussi trouvde dans les fordts

sdches de boisement clair, y compris les bambousaies, au sol plus ou mo ins

encombrd de pierres. En rdcrion accidentde, elle occupe les pentes avec

ldger couvert arbustif ainsi que les fordts sdches des plaines voisines.

Ce traquet n'a pour le moment dtd observd que dans la reaion de Saraya, une

soixantaine de kilometres au nord-est de Kddougou (une seule fois) et

commundment dans la rdgion de Kddougou en mars-avril 1934. II reste d

prdciser sa repartition qui doit ddpasser les limites reconnues actuellement.

C'est une espdce discrete qui dchappe facilement & 1 ' observation .

Monticcla saxatilis Merle de roche Un mdle avait dtd observe le 14 mars

1972 dans une for St sdche au sol brGld prds de Kddougou. Cette espdce ne

fut pas revue en 1984. Elle est observde sur les falaises de Popenguine

(sud-est de Dakar) au passaae de printemps en petit nombre; l'hivemage ou

une tentative d'hivemage sur ce site semblent indiquds par le presence de

3 merles le 4 ddcembre 1982 (Morel et al. 1983) . II reste done d

rechercher si des Merles de roche hivement sur le versant sdndgalais de la

frontidre sdndgalo-guindenne. Rdcemment, Brosset (1984) en rencontra 4 en

ddcembre sur des prairies d' altitude, entre 1250 et 1400 m dans la partie

guindenne du Mont Nimba. On sait que l'espdce hiveme aussi sur la partie

libdrienne du merne massif (Curry -Lindahl 1979) , de mdme qu. 'en Sierra Leone

(Field 1973) .

Monticcla solitaria Merle bleu On sait depuis peu (Morel et al . 1983)

qu'une petite population hiveme en diffdrents points du pays, non seulement

en des sites rocailleux: essentiellement la falaise de Popenguine avec une

vingtaine de sujets ainsi que les pentes des vclcans dteints des Manmelles,

les lies et ilots rocheux du Cap-Vert, mais aussi et 1^ sur des b&timents

corrme h Pichard-Toll ou a Nouakchott, Mauritanie, ou des sujets isolds ou

des couples se can torment pour l'"hiver" (Browne, PI7? com pers) . Nous

n'avons rencontrd qu'un sujet F de cette espdee sur le rebord broussailleux

de la gorge de Dinndefelou. C'etait le 31 mars et, h cette date, le courant

miaratoire devait avoir ramend vers le nord la plupart des merles.

Moreau (1972) rapnorte que des Merles bleus hivement sur la partie

libdrienne du Mont Nimba et Field (1973) observa quelques sujets sur les

Monts Lomas de Sierra Leone.

Ainsi, cette espdee manifeste un dclectisme remarquable puisqu'elle

hiveme sur un gradient longitudinal quasi continu, quoique de fagon trds

dispersde , depuis la Mdditerrande jusqu'd la rdgion guindenne, depuis le

niveau de la mer jusqu'd une altitude de 1700 mdtres , sans dddaigner ici ou

Id une simple faqade d'usine.

Myrmecocichla (Thamnolea) cinnamomeiventris Traquet de roche d ventre roux

Les premiers sujets avaient dtd observds, fin mars 1972, dans des collines

rocheuses une vingtaine de kilomdtres d l'ouest de Kddougou.

Nous avons recherchd l'espdce en 1984 et l'avons trouvde connrune, au

mo ins localement prds d'lbel, d proximitd des carridres de mrbre, d l'ouest

de Kddougou. Ces traquets avaient 1' habitude de venir boire le soir dans

le chantier. On les trouvait aussi sur les paiois escarpdes de la aorcre de

Dinnddf dlou .

1985

Mileux rocheurs au Senegal

119

De son cotd, A.R. Dupuy (com pers) a observe ce traquet dans la reaion

du Mont 7\ssirik , Parc National du Niokolo-Koba. Dans le sud mauritanien,

le Traguet de roche a aussi <§t£ observd dans le massif de l'Assaba (Browne

1981) . "

Nous sommes redevable k Charles Rouchouse, Gdo-physicien de l'ORSTQM, de

la description du milieu dont il a bien voulu se charger.

BIBLIOGRAPHIE

ADAM, J.G. (1965 Tburisme et flore du Fouta-Djalon au Senegal. Notes afr.

105: 12-15

BROSSET, A. (1984) Oiseaux miorateurs europeens hivemant dans la partie

guindenne du Mont Nimba. Alauda 52: 81-101

BROWNE, P.W.P. (1981) New bird species in Mauritania. Malimbus 3: 63-72

CAWKELL, E.M. (1965) Notes on Gambian Birds. Ibis 107: 535-540

CURRY-LINDAHL , K. (1981) Bird Migration in Africa. 2 vol. Academic Press.

DEKEYSER, P.L. & VILLIERS, A. (1950) Contribution a 1' etude du peuplement

de la Mauritanie. Bull. ifan. XII: 660-699

FIELD, G.D. (1973) Ortolan, and Blue Rock Thrush in Sierra I^one. Bull.

BOC. 93: 81-82

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

1 ' Af rique . Lechevalier . Paris .

LAMARCHE , B. (1980-1981) Liste cormentde 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) Donnees nouvelles ^ur

Monticola solitaria et Monticcla saxatilis en Sdn(?garnbie . Malimbus 5:

1-4

MOREL, G. & ROUX, F. (1966) Les migrateurs paldarctiques au Sdndgal.

Terre <S Vie: 19-72; 143-176

MOREL, G. & ROUX, F. (1973) Les migrateurs paldarctiques au S£n£gal:

notes compiementaires . Terre & Vie 27: 523-550

Gerard J. Morel , Station d'Ecologie, ORSTOM , BP 20 Richard-Tol 1 , Sdn£gal

120

NOTES

MALIMBUS 7

PARASITES AND DISEASES OF ABDIM'S STORK Ciconia abdimii - In August 1984 a

female Abdim's Stork was captured by students during a fjeld 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) , which were identified as female and

male respectively of Amblyomma variegatus . Short-bodied lice Anatoecus sp.

and long-bodied lice Esthiopterum sp. were crawling all over the body of the

bird. In addition there were two necrotic Growths on the left tibia (Fig. 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 family

Trichostrongylidae were found between the muscle and cuticle of the gizzard.

I am grateful to Dr S.A. Apeji of the Institute of Agricultural Pesearch

who supplied the specimen, and to Professor G.K. Sweatman of the Department

of (Veterinary) Parasitology, Ahmadu Bello University who helped with the

identification of the parasites.

A.U. Ezealor

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. P. Mills

Received 30 July 1984

Revised 9 October 1984

The objective 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 follow-up of the study by Gee & Heigham (1977) , which 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 which have increased in abundance compared with

the status quoted by Gee & Heigham (8 species) ; (d) species, regarded as

corrmon by Gee & Heigham, which have recently decreased in abundance (53

species). (For a further 121 canmon species, no significant changes have

been detected.)

Observations were concentrated in Ikoyi Park (palm bush, thickets, man-

groves) ; Ikoyi gardens; Ikoyi sandfill area; Tarkwa (Lighthou.se Peach,

gardens, derived savanna, mangroves); University of Lagos ("Unilag",

Akoka) (thickets, farms, mangroves); Agbara and Isheri (forest). Occasional

visits were made to other parts of Lacos 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' camp" - freshwater

swamp) , 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 comparing 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 which have recently

decreased in abundance is highlighted. In the case of Poseate 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 simple

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, tut this area too is now largely dried out,

grown over with vegetation and partly covered, by low-cost housing, schools,

122

P.D. Alexander-Marrack et al.

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) vh.ll be deposited with the

Secretary of W.A.O.S.

ABBREVIATIONS

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 t i i i — f- - many observations , + + + + + = few observations ,

and CC = call heard only.

REFERENCES

GEE, J, & HEIGHAM, J. (1977) Birds of Lagos, Niaeria. Bull. Nigerian Orn.

Soc . 13: 43-51 , 103-132

WAMMES, D.F., BOERE, G.C. & BPAAKSMA, S. (1983) (To what extent are

changes in abundance of passerines related to their patterns of

migration?) (In Dutch) . Limosa 56: 231-242

P.D. Alexander-Marrack , c/o Thai Shell, P.O. Box 345, Bangkok. Thailand

M.J. Aaronson, c/o F.C.O., King Charles St., London SW1A 2AH , UK

R. Farmer, St. Dominic' s , Box 44, Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria

W.H. Houston, c/o Barclays Bank of Swaziland Ltd., P.O. Box 667,

Mbabane, Swaziland

T.R. Mills, 36 Chartf i eld Avenue, Putney, London SW15 England

1985

Lagos birds

123

MONTHS RECORDED

JFMAMJJASOND

(a) Additions to Lagos List

Ciconia abdimii

Cioonia ciconia

Melierax metabates

Vanellus spinosus

Recurvirostra avosetta

Pcicephalus senega lus

+ + + +

+ +

+ + + +

Hirundo abyssinica

Oriolus brachyrhynchus

+

Amadina fasciata

(b) Revivals (species not recorded 1966-75)

Accipiter erythropus

+ +

+

Turtur brehmeri

c c c c

c c

Glaucidium per latum

+ c +

c c + c c

Alcedo leucogaster

Anthus cervinus

Poeoptera lugubris

'■VI

REMARKS

Vaorant: one, Ikoyi sandfi.ll

26/11/78 (Harmattan weather)

(PDA-M, AKY) .

>'

i

Vaorant: 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

(PDA-M) .

4 records Ikoyi sandfill Dec

1978-Jan 1979, with maximum 3

birds on 1/12/78 (PDA-M, UHH) .

d

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) .

I

One near Ibereko, (26/3/78)

(PDA-M, WHH) .

I

-fj

5 at Tarkwa (24/1/84), probably

feral (RF) .

5 records of single birds at

Isheri ( 1 979-8 1 ) (PDA-M , TRM)

'V

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.

tgmpanistria , 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 (PDA1

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.

*■'.!

1

6 (including imm?) 17/9/78; 8

24/11/79; Agbara (PDA-M, TRM,

RES) .

m

124

P.D. Alexander-Marrack et al.

MALIMBUS 7

Acrocephalus arundinaceus

Macrosphenus concolor

Myioparus plumbeus

(c) Increased in abundance

Ardeola ibis

Psittacula krameri

Phoeniculus purpureus

Onychognathus fulgidus

Criniger barbatus

Apalis flavida

Muscicapa striata

Nectarinia cyanolaema

MONTHS RECOPDED

FMAMJJASOND

+ + +

c c c

+

4— H 1 »— | 1 1 1 I 1 <4

4~H-~4=-4- + H ) I I I ! 4

+ -+- + + + + 4-H- + +

-4 4" 4 4-i--‘3aTi i "i f

H— ! \ 1 1 h

■M— f- + I t -4-

4—4- + 4-4- +

+ -4~+ + + + 4— H + +

REMARKS

6 records (1979); sonq heai

at Unilag (20/1/79) (TRM,WF

PDA-M) ; subsong at Ikoyi Sci

fill (PDA-M) .

Not seen in Iagos area, bul

calls heard (taped twice)

at Ipaja and I sheri, and si

sequently identified from

Chapouis (1979) (PDA-M).

One at Agbara, 4/9/78 (PDA-

WHH ) .

Continuing to increase; cor

especially near National

Theatre, Igararru; flocks up

80 birds; now present throi

out the year, although few?

July.

Common at Ikoyi Park (max

with roosting movements to

Ikoyi; also recorded at Un:

(13/1/79), Tarkwa (6 record

and Victoria Island (30/9/'

Seen regularly in Ikoyi. Pa:

and gardens; one entering '

hole (5/1/83, MJA) ; partie:

incl 3 irrm (23/9/78) and 4

2 imm (28/2/81); 2 records

forest edge/clearing Isher:

1981 (PDA-M) and one from r

(3/3/80) (RF) .

Widespread and fairly comm

Ikoyi, Victoria, Tarkwa, A<

Isheri, max flock 7 (4/9/7!

one pair with nest material

(7/1/79) Ikoyi Park.

Fairly common at Isheri ant

Aobara in mixed feedina fit

voice differs from Chappui:

(1975) recording.

Locally common in Ikoyi maj

oroves , also at Unilag; im

8/10/78.

Fairly coirmon on passage.

Fairly common Act bar a and I:

forests; female at nest (1!

(PDA-M) .

1985

Lagos birds

125

MONTHS RECORDED

JFMAMJJ ASOND

(d) Decreased in abundance

Phalacrocorax africanus

Ixobrychus minutus

Nycticorax nycticorax

Ardeola ralloides

Egretta alba

Egretta intermedia

Anastomns lamelligerus

Dendrocygna viduata

+

+ + +

+

+ + + + + +

+

+ +

+ + + +

+

+ +

+

REMARKS

Uncommon; several sightings

Sept 1978 Of irm over Ikoyi; 4 over

Unilag (13/1/79) and one near

Lighthouse Beach (21/1/80).

Only recent records July-Sept,

flying over grass swamp (Ikoyi

and Tarkwa) .

Continuing to decline; few

records Ikoyi (max 9 (21/1/83)

(MJA) ; mainly immatures; one

behind Lighthouse Beach.

Mainly dry season, mostly

single birds (Ikoyi sandfill) ;

max 6 behind Licrhthouse Beach

(12/1/81) .

Few records of 1-2 birds,

mainly June-Sept.

Only 4 records : 1 , Unilag

(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.

Aviceda cuculoides +

Sr ex egregia + +

Burhinus senegalensis + + +

+ One, Tarkwa (15/12/80, 10/1/83)

(PF) .

+ 3 records from Ikoyi sandfill

and Unilag.

4 records, Tarkwa and Ikoyi

sandfill (1979) .

Sharadrius dubius

S. pecuarius

S. forbesi

lumen ius arquata

Pringa stagnatilis

P. ochropus

+

+ + +

+ + Records only from Ikoyi sand-

fill, winter 1979/80, max 4

(28/11/79) .

NO RECENT RECORDS.

+ + 4 records of sinnle birds

Ikoyi sandfill and Tarkwa

(1979) .

+ + + + 1-2 birds only, Ikoyi sandfill

1973/9.

+ + + Few records mainly from Ikoyi

sandfill; max 4 (1/12/79).

126

P.D. Alexander-Marrack et al.

MALIMBUS 7

T . totanus

Himantopus himantopus

Rostratula benghalensis

Cursorius temminckii

G1 areola cinerea

Sterna dougalii

S. hirundo

S. paradisea

S . albif rons

Tumix sylvatica

Tauraco persa

Clamator levaillantii

Cuculus solitarius

Caprimulgus climacurus

Halcyon leucocephala

Eurystomus glaucurus

Gymnobucco peli

Mirafra rufocinnaironea

Hirundo semirufa

Psalidoprocne obscura

MONTHS RECORDED

JFMAMJ JASOND

+ + + 4 > ■ + + +

I I I " + + + +

+ 4 I I 4-

+ + + + + ■+— 4- + +

+ + +

+

+ + + + + + + + + + + +

+ +

+ + +

4 I I t + + + + 4— t 1 h

+ + + + +

+ +

+ + + + +

REMARKS

Mainly Aug-Sept , Ikoyi sand-

fill, max 18 (5/9/79,

7/10/79); 3 Tarkwa records.

Records mainly Ikoyi sandfk

1978/9, max 20 (17/1/79) ; .

also Iju Waterworks Road and

Ojo.

NO RECENT RECORDS.

Regular at Ikoyi sandfill b

numbers reduced; max 30

(27/8/80) .

NO RECENT 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 sinale birds,

Ikoyi sandfill and Unilag.

Uncommon .

Common but in reduced numbe:

max 10 (5/1/83) (MJA) ; also

present throughout rainy

season 1981.

No recent records from Lago:

area.

6 records Ikoyi sandfill 19'

80 only.

Tarkwa only (RF) .

7 records from Unilag and

Tarkwa; max 7 (20/1/79) .

1985

Lagos birds

127

)

Lanius collaris

1ENTHS RECORDED

JFMAMJJASOND

+ +

Lairprotornis purpureiceps + + + +

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster + + + +

Ixonotus guttatus + + + + + + + +

Phyllastrephus albigularis +

REMARKS

Only 2 records (1981): one,

Victoria Island near remain-

ing open grassland) ; 2 on

wires near Ojo.

Only 4 records of s inale birds ,

Agbara and Ijede forests, and .$

Tarkwa . p

i

7 records from Tarkwa (max 20,

9/1/83 (RF) ) and Agbara.

Uncommon in forest areas, max

9 (15/10/78).

One pair netted (16/3/80) Agbara

(WHH , PDA-M) . |

Luscinia megarhynchos

+ Sona heard on 2 days Dec 1981

in cleared area, Isheri.

Macrosphenus flavicans

NO RECENT RECORDS: checked

recordings of Chappuis (1979) and

of J.H. Elgood (Lagos 1960's) but

nothing similar heard 1977-81.

Platysteira castanea

+

+ + + + Uncommon, Agbara and Isheri.

P. blissetti

Trochocercus longicauda

Terps iphone rufiventer

Nectarinia reichenbachii

N . cuprea

Euplectes afer

Nigrita luteifrons

Ortygospiza atricollis

NO RECENT RECORDS.

+ + + + + +

+ + + + +

+ + + +

Local in mangroves; pair present

Ikoyi mangroves 1978 to April

1979, thereafter only recorded

from Tarkwa and Unilag.

ft

All recent records only from

Unilag; max 4 (25/12/79).

«?

Local in freshwater swamp,

Kande; rare at Tarkwa.

+ One near Ojo (1/11/81).

+ 1 i t ■

4- +

+ -f -h -f 4- -f

At least 6 males in grass swamp,

Tarkwa; also Yewa Lagoon (JHB) .

Uncommon; 5 records from Isheri

(1981) .

5 records 1980 from Ikoyi sand-

fill, max 4 (23/8/80); 4 at

Tarkwa (1/9/81).

128

NOTES

MALIMBUS 7

SOME 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 Senecral in the Niokola-Koba National Park.

At WOurang , 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,

when a parent removed half an eggshell, ran with it for some 10 m 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 we

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 completed

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 Andr£-Roger Dupuy, Gerard Morel and A.T. Souleymane Massaly for

friendly co-operation.

Reference

Howell, Thomas P. 1979. Breeding Biology of the Foyptian Plover.

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 IVORY COAST - D. Levell showed me a colour trans-

parency of a nightjar, one of twa which appeared on SS 'Romandor Surveyor

stationed 5-8 km off Jacqueville, 05°12'N 04°25'W, Ivory Coast, on a day in

the period 15-20 December 1980, when the weather was calm tut 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 13'N) .

C.H. Fry

Aberdeen University Zoology Department , Til lydrone Avenue, Aberdeen AB9 2TN ,

UK

1985

129

SONG AND COURTSHIP OF THE WATTLED STAPLING CREATOPHORA CINEREA

by Walter A. Sontag Jr.

Peceived 20 May 1985

INTRODUCTION

Among the African sturnids the Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea is con-

sidered to be the nearest relative of the genus Sturnus (Amadon 1943; see

also Durrer & Villiger 1970, Harrison 1963). It inhabits dry areas and is

districted 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 comprising up to 400 nests. However, rarely, in close

relation with mass reproduction of locusts, they suddenly form enormous

colonies composing thousands of nests in a small area. A breeding colony

consists, to a large extent, of nesting communities (Liversidcre 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 were studied in captive birds. Furthermore, I paid attention

to the great variation in the appearance of individuals which becomes

evident when they display.

METHODS

The investigation was started 12 years ago at Frankfurt 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 ofc. 5x3x2mon Mainz University campus.

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 (which can be succeeded by further parts) . Sonqs

typically exceed 15 s in duration, and stepwise differences in volume between

the different sections are characteristic.

'Undirected' song does not elicit aggression in conspecifics. In the

moulting period, at times a male approaches a singing male and ruffles its

head plumage, but I have not yet found an explanation of this behaviour.

I noted one instance of apparent selective attraction to an individual's

sonqs. 'Undirected' song of Male P attracted Male P, 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 P zoo born, and

they had never lived together in one group; no sexual or agonistic

motivation was evident in either bird.

kHz

8i

6-

4-

2-

*

w

%

l

*; ■ i

kHz

8

6

4

2\

r hi

*

0: %'

\ .V ~

in iiiMTiiMiffinrnTiiiimir

**

■ III

kHz

8;

6-

4

2-

Figure 1 Sonagram of initial 18 sec of a male's single sona lasting for

31 sec. Arrow'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 - P.

1985

Wattled Starling courtship

131

In the moulting period song alters and it sounds not fully developed (in

one bird as if the voice was ' breaking ' ) . At that time some components

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

notivation, 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 female Budgerigars Melopsit.tacus undulatus (Brockway 1965),

Ring Doves Streptopelia risoria (Lott et al. 1967), and Canaries Serinus

canarius (Kroodsma 1976) .

Because of their strikingly similar qualities it is warth comparing the

'undirected' song of Wattled Starlings with the 'solitary' song of estrildids

(Harrison 1962, Immelmann 1962, 1968, Morris 1958). In both cases song lacks

any epigamic function (although Wattled Starlings and estrildids do have

advertisement songs). Harrison (1962) described the song of estrildids as

"complex utterances, frequently elaborate and prolonged", which 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. However, in two breeding pairs I noticed singing during nest-reliefs.

Among estrildids, too, song does not provoke aggression (cf. Immelmann 1968).

CCXTRTSHIP

Morphologically significant characters

The individual appearance of Wattled Star linns 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, when patches of yellow and black skin become obvious. The

upper greater wing coverts show great variation in colour, beinq brown,

grey or white. Heads and winas 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 'Vulture 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),

when the naked temple stripes are conspicuously displayed.

Male courtship utilizes acoustic and optical sicmals. It commences with

the male lowering and slightly spreading the wine 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 markedly 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 remiges, 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 movements, 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 duettinc (cf . Powan 1955,

Harrison 1963, Sontag 1983).

1985

Wattled Starlinq courtship

133

Figure 3 Male (on right) courting a sexually non-motivated female.

OTHER POSSIBLE FUNCTIONS OF SONG

A spontaneous reaction to a distant singing bird, or probable aural

recognition of sonq 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

motivational conflict.

COMPARISON WITH EUROPEAN STARLING

Because of the close relationship between the European Starling Sturnus

vulgaris and the Wattled Starling the following behavioural differences

should be pointed out. Liversidqe (1961) mentioned acoustic mimicry in

Wattled Starlings. Althouqh I studied a qreat 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 any other individual. In European Starlings acoustic mimicry

is ccmmon (Feare 1984) .

Feare (1984) noted that in European Starlinqs sinqinq is accompanied by

winq-f licking and wing-flailinq; although he sugqested that Wattled.

Starlinqs wing-flail it seems to differ from the wing-waving described above.

134

W.A. Sontag jr.

MALIMBUS 7

SUMMARY

Wattled Starlings Creatophora cinerea were studied in captivity in Germany.

Both sexes sing (slightly dissimilarly) , songs often lastinc for over 15

sec. Individual song recognition is very likely. Male song may be

uttered 'undirected' (not addressed to a female). In two pairs sinning

occurred during nest relief. 'Undirected' song is accompanied by wing

waving. A male sings while performina lateral and frontal display. .

Head pattern and individual differences in wincj 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

Jirrcren Nicolai.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I thank Prof Dr. J. Nicolai (Wilhelmshaven) for allowing me to use the sona-

graph in the Institut fur Voce 1 for schung in Wilhelmshaven; I ami grateful

to Mrs K. Dietrich for help in making sonagrams. Mrs D. Mantell and Mrs

J. Wiesel helped with translation.

REFERFNCES

AMADON, D. (1943) The genera of starlings and their relationships. Am.

Mus. Novitates , no. 1247, 16 pp

BROCKWAY, B.F. (1965) Stimulation of ovarian development and egg laying

by male courtship vocalizations in Budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) .

Anim. Behav. 13: 575-578.

DEAN, w.p.j. (1978) Plumage, reproductive condition and moult in non-

breeding Wattled Starlings. Ostrich 49: 97-101

DUPREP, H. & VILLIGEP , W. (1970) Schiller far ben der Stare (Stumidae) .

J. Orn. Ill: 133-153

FEARF, C. (1984) The Starling. Oxford, Oxford University Press

HARRISON, C.J.O. (1962) Solitary song and its Inhibition in some

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

HOF.SCH , W. (1936) Nester und Oelege aus dem Damaraland. II. J. Orn.

84: 3-20

IMMELMANN, K. (1962) Anmerkunq 2 zu C.J.O. Harrison: Solitary song and

its inhibition in some Estrildidae. J. Orn. 103: 375-377

BMEIMANN, K. (1968) Zur biolocrischen Redeutung des Estrildidengesancres .

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. , SCHOLZ, 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

MORRIS, D. (1958) The comparative ethology of grassf inches (Erythrurae)

and mannikins (Amadinae) . P-roc . Zool. Soc . Bond. 131 : 389-439

PROVE, E. (1974) Der Finfluf von Kastration und Testosteronsubstitution

auf das Sexualverhalten mannlicher Zebrafinken. J. Orn. 115: 338-347

ROWAN, M.K . (1955) The breedincr biology of the Red-winged Starling

Onychognathus morio -. Ibis 97: 663-705

SONTAG, JR., W.A. (1983) Untersuchungen zur Soziologie des Lappen-

stars Creatophora cinerea ( Meuschen , 1787) und ein Vergleich wit. anderen

Starenarten ( Sturnidae ) . Ph.D. thesis, UniversitSt Mainz.

Walter A. Sontag jr . , Institut fur Zoologie, Universitat, Saarstr. 21,

D-6500 Mainz, West Germany

136

NOTES

MALIMBUS 7

LARGE-SCALE MOVEMENTS OF COMMON PRATINCOLE Glareola pratincola AT JUBA;

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, following 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 which of the three races recognized by Brosset

(1986, in E.K . Urban, C.H. Fry and S. Keith, eds, The Birds cf 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 rroving during both day and night suggests that the birds were migrating;

it seems mcst 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 (Cramp & Simmons, 1983, The Birds of the Western Palearctic ,

3) . The wintering ranae of this race is the southern edge of the Sahara

from Senegal to Ethiopia. The southern limit appears to be unknown, though

it may be around 5°N in southern Ethiopia (Cramp & Simons, 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 Wourang (13°08'N, 13°18'W) , 16 km west of Dar Salam in the

Niokola-Koba National Park, Senegal, and on 23 March M.T\T.R . found a two-part

colony at the bottom of the cliff. About 400 birds had assembled at one

point and about 800 at another about 500 m away; most were actively burrowing

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 (14°56'N 12°20'U).

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 larcre 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

NOTES COMPIiEMENTAI PES SUE L'AVIFAUNE DES PARCS NATICNAUX

DE L'ARLI (BURKINA) ET DE LA PENDJARI (BENIN)

par Yves Thonnerieux

Received. 9 October 1984

Depuis la publication de 1' article de Green & Sayer (1979) , deux courtes

visites ef fectudes dans la zone des pares de l'Arli et de la Pendjari ont

pernis ddbut mars 1982 et 1984 d'apporter quelques compldments d l'dtude de

nos prdddeesseurs .

Modifications du statut de certaines esp&ces figurant dans la liste de

Green & Sayer (G & S par la suite)

Ardeola ralloides Hdron crabier Donnd frdquent de ddeembre d mars par

G & S; observd aux mares Diwouni et Tiabiga le 07/04/82.

Anastoirus lamelligerus Bec-ouvert Deux observations de G & S en

novembre et ddeembre ; probablement rare mais rdgulier en mars puisque

contactd a nos deux passages les 04/04/82 (mare Yangouali) et 07/04/84

(rividre Arli) .

Circus pygargus Busard cendrd Frdquent selon G & S de ddeembre d mars;

encore prdsent d la mare Bali le 05/04/82.

Polemaetus bellicosus Aiqle martial Une unique observation de G & S en

ddeembre, statut plutot surprenant de la part de ce grand prddateur qui

peut trouver des proies d volontd dans les deux pares; un adulte tente

de surprendre un groupe de Pintades communes Numida meleagris le 05/04/84

au bord du Doubodo par la piste de Wamou.

Elanus riocourii Naucler d'Afrique Frdquenment notd par G & S de

ddeembre d mars; encore comrnun ddbut avril: cinq ensemble le 04/04/82

dans le pare de la Pendjari, deux d la mare Divxauni le 06/04/82, deux dans

le pare de l'Arli le 05/04/84.

Vanellus tectus Vanneau d tete noire Donne coirrne frdquent de ddeembre d

mars par G & S; un couple encore prdsent dans la savane prds de la

riviere Pendjari le 06/04/84.

Tringa ochropus Chevalier culblanc Rarement observd en janvier-fdvrier

par G & S; 3 contacts en mars: un sujet le 07/04/82 d la mare Tiabiga,

un le 05/04/84 au bord du Doubodo, quelques le 06/04/84 le long de la

Pendjari.

T. erythropus Chevalier arlequin Rare d'aprds G & S de janvier d mars;

un individu le 07/04/82 d la mare Tiabiga, deux le 04/04/84 avant la mare

Pemba to.

Calidris minuta Bdcasseau minute Citd une fois en janvier par G & S;

10 sujets observds d la mare Pemba to le 04/04/84.

138

Y. Thonnerieux

MALIMBUS 7

Capr imulgus climacurus Engoulevant h longue queue Quelques cas cit£s par

G & S en janvier-fdvrier ; semble-t-il rdoulier en avril: deux le 04/04/82

dans le pare de la Pendjari, un le 06/04/84 au village d'Arli,

Merops pusillus Guepier nain Rarement notd en d£cembre, janvier et

septembre par G & S; une observation h la mare Yangouali le 04/04/82.

Mot ac ilia flava Rergeronnette printani£re Notde "rare" en mars-avril par

G & S; nous l'avons pour notre part rdguli&rement observde , il est vrai en

petit nombre, en bordure de la plupart des mares et cours d'eau ddbut avril

1982 et 1984.

Corvus albus Corbeau pie Statut de resident frdquent de janvier A ddeembre

dans le travail, de G & S; pourtant, en dix ^ours d ' observations soutenues

ddbut avril des deux anndes, nous n'avons contacte l'espece qu'une fois,

d'ailleurs en limite des pares, pr£s du massif de l'Atakora.

P. phoenicurus Rouge-queue a front blanc Not.£ frdquent par G & S de

d£cembre & f^vrier; un le 06/04/82 h la mare Diwouni.

Hippolais pallida Hypolals pale Une citation de G & S en janvier;

apparemment r^gulier en avril: un le 04/04/82 et un autre le 06/04/84 dans

les galeries foresti^res ou il se montre tr£s discret.

Camarcptera brachgura Camaropt&re h dos gris Rarement observd par G & S

en janvier et juillet; deux contacts le long de l'Arli pr£s du village les

04 et 07/04/84.

Eremomel a pus ilia Erdmom^le A dos vert Esp£ce frdquente pour G & S en

juillet et novembre; une le 05/04/82 h la mare Yangouali, une le 07/04/82

k la mare Divomi.

Muscicapa aquatica Gobemouche des marais Bizarrement notd en juillet

seulement par G & S; abondant pourtant en avril dans tous les milieux

boisds pr£s de l'eau.

Ember iz a tahapisi Bruant cannelle Frdquent selon G & S en juillet et

novembre; tr£s commun en avril au bord des divers points d'eau en

association avec d'autres esp£ces de Ploceidds.

Passer griseus Moineau gris G & S le donnent frequent en janvier-fdbrier ;

deux observations autour d'Arly pr£s de l'eau les 04 et 07/04/84.

Petronia dentata Petit Moineau soulcie Frdquent en janvier (G & S) ; par

groupes aux points d'eau les 05/04/82 (mare Bali) et le 07/04/84 (riviere

Arly) .

Pgtilia phoenicoptera Diamant aurore Frdquent en fdvrier, octobre et

novembre (G & S) ; observd et capturd les 06 et 07/04/84 le long de l'Arli

prfes du village.

Estrilda troglodytes Bee de corail cendr£ Rare en fdvrier d'apr^s G & S;

une centaine ensemble le long de la Pendjari le 06/04/84, une dizaine le

07 prfes d'Arli.

Lonchura malabarica Bee d'argent Rare en d£cembre et en mars (G & S) ;

quelques individus h Arli le 07/04/84.

1985

Arli (Burkina) et Pendjari (Benin)

139

Liste des esp^ces nouvelles pour les deux pares

Threskiornis aethiopica Ibis saerd Un sujet le 07/04/82 A la mare Tiabiga.

Anas guerguedula Sarcelle d'§td Un male le 07/04/82 entre les mares Diwouni

et Tiabiga. II est plutot surprenant que cet Anatidd qui hiveme en effectifs

considerables en Afrique occidentale n'ait pas dtd notd auparavant dans les

deux pares, alors que la Sarcelle d'hiver A. crecca, rare dans la merrte zone

gdocrraphique , bdndficie d'une mention de G & S.

Falco alopex Faucon renard Probablement assez rdgulier en avril puisque

notd une fois chaque arrnde: un le 05/04/82 A la mare Bali, un autre le

07/04/84 prds d'Arli.

G. gallinago Becassine des marais Une A la mare Diwouni le 06/04/82.

Hirundo leucosoma Hirondelle A ailes tachetdes Une survolant la galerie

forestidre de la Pendjari le 06/04/82.

Lamprotornis chloropterus Merle metallique de Swainson Observations et

capture les 06 et 07/04/82 prds du village d'Arli,

Chlorocichla flavicollis Grand Bulbul a gorge jaune Une observation le

08/04/82 un peu au Sud de la limite du pare de la Pendjari, dans la foret

galerie de la cascade de Tanougou.

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus Phragmite des joncs Un chanteur attribud

A cette espdee le 04/04/82.

Phylloscopus bonelli Pouillot de Bonelli Quelques sujets le 04/04/84 dans

la galerie fores tidre de l'Arli, prds du village.

Nectar inia verticalis Soui-mancra olive A tete bleue Un individu le

08/04/82 A la cascade de Tanouaou.

Amadina fasciata Cou-coupe Quelques sujets au bord de la Pendjari le

06/04/84 .

FEMERCIEMENTS

II nous est agrdable de remercier ici I'Institut de Recherche en Biologie

et Ecologie Tropicale de Ouagadougou avec le soutien duquel nous effectuames

la mission d' avril 1984. Notre gratitude s'adresse aussi aux colldgues du

voyage d'dtude d' avril 82: Josv Defour, Serge Honore et Marie-France Le

Pennec, tous notbres du Centre Omithologique Rhone-Alpes.

REFERENCE

GREEN , A. A. & SAYEP, J.A. (1979)

Parks (Benin and Upper-Volta) .

The birds of Pendjari and Arli National

Malimbus 1: 14-28

Yves Thonnerieux , Centre Ornithologigue RhSne-Alpes , Labo de Z oologie ,

University Lyon I, 43 Bd . du 11 novembre 1918,

69622 Villeurbanne Cedex , France

140

NOTES

MALIMBUS 7

REICHENBACH ' S SUNBIRD Nectarinia reichenbachii NEW TO IVORY COAST - During

a brief visit to Ivory Coast in September -October 1983 I saw single examples

of what could only have been male Reichenbach ' s Sunbirds 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 Ebrid 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 A nthreptes collar is , 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 views, was in flowering trees in a hotel garden. It had

metallic blue head and throat, olive crreen upperparts, grey breast, and

yellow on the belly and undertail coverts. This combination of features

rules out A. collar is, the Blue-throated Brown 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 7) .

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, 06°13'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, Dunai River, Odessa (USSR) 45°20'N, 29°40'E

House Martin Del ichor urbica

Ringed 10 September 1983, Rye Meads (UK) 51°47'N, 0°0'E

Caught by child 26 February 1984, Ikwo (Nigeria 06°05'N 08°06'E

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava

Pinged 6 February 1973, Vom (Nigeria) 09°50'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, Chemiqov (USSR) 50°55'N, 31°00'E

(4787 km, 1591 days) .

R.E. Sharland

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

1985

141

OBSERVATIONS OF ALLEN'S GALLINULE PORPHYRIO ALLEN I AT MOMBASA, KENYA

by P.B. Taylor

Received 17 July 1985

Revised 6 September 1985

INTRODUCTION

Allen's Gallinule Porphyrio 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

uncommon resident in permanent swamps, but in some areas it may wander or

occur seasonally (Britton 1980). It is reasonably carman on Zanzibar and

Pemba islands (Pakenham 1979) . Like other gallinules it is an inveterate

wanderer, and is the only Afrotropical bird which regularly occurs as a

vagrant to Europe (Cramp & Simmons 1980) .

Although cannon 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) but 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 elsewhere in Kenya, are given below, together with a carparison

with fair 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 Cyperus (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 wsre 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 improved 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.

feeding and roosing 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. porphyrio and Moorhens Gallinula

chloropus . Numbers of Black Crakes Amaurornis flavirostris and African

Jacanas Actophilornis africana 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.

Elsewhere 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 swamp. Large areas

of floating vegetation were scarce at the swamp edge, and open areas

within the swamps, where birds may have occurred, were inaccessible.

Allen's Gallinules occur seasonally elsewhere in Copperbelt Province, in

habitat like that at Bamburi but without Pistia and sometimes with

Polygonum. At Lochinvar (Kafue Flats 15°47'S 27°14'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

MALIMBUS 7

MIGRATIONS 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, when

habitat became extensive (Table 1 ) . Habitat was at its maximum extent in

April-May when 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-Apr and rose in Oct-Nov;

some birds remaining in the long rains nested. Black Crakes bred after the

long rains and numbers showed no major fluctuations. Of these Purple

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) , when 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 Bamburi 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 be made from figures in Cramp & Simmons (1980) .

1985

Allen's Gallinule

145

Table 2 Numbers and breeding records (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 would 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 when 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 assumptions , the June juveniles would 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 completed

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

MALIMBUS 7

colours is not known; one juvenile in late July , c. 100 days old, had dull

adult bare part colours. One in May, '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 white 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) , when 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 accompanying

juveniles, chasing away other Allen's Gallinules which approached closer

than 3 m.

FOOD AND 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 while 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, which 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 developina 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 . When

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 sp>ecies

feeding commonly on Nymphaea seedheads) ; once a Pygmy Goose was chased

until it dropp^ed the seedhead which it was carrying; the gallinule then

seized the seedhead and carried it off.

1985

Allen's Gallinule

147

VOICE

I

Three types of call were heard. (1) A subdued 'kup' , the commonest call of

adults and 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 context; 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 Cramp & Simons 1980) . In Zan±>ia a half-grown chick gave

a fourth call when with an adult, a quiet 'tack' probibly 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 with much floating vegetation, especially Nymphaea which is an

important source of plant and animal food. Pistia and floating matted

crrasses 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 but 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 but

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

restric4 ed (Table 1 ) . Possibly they abandoned their breeding habitat

because it became even less suitable than was Bamturi 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 much food in the breeding season, the fact that most 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 to colonise

opportunistically when dispersing from their breeding areas.

The breeding grounds of this population of Allen's Gallinule are not

known. 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 Soqa (near Dar-es-Salaam) in

November (EANHS Nest Fecord Scheme) .

Of the comparison 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

MALIMBUS 7

is recorded at Bamburi in Feb, May and July (EANHS Nest Record scheme) tut

nowhere else on the Kenya coast. My observations are the first breeding

records of Moorhen and Black Crake in coastal Kenya, but breeding at

Bamburi has probably been overlooked previously.

A Bamburi 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 unaccompanied , 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, Cramp & Simmons 1980). Adults apparently moult

all remiges shortly after breeding (Cramp & Simmons 1980) ; as no flightless

birds were seen at Bamburi, adults may have moulted before arrival.

Turning over Nymphaea leaf edges when feeding was described by Fry

(1966) , but 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 competition with them for food at the dam. African

Jacanas fed largely on insects, Moorhens chiefly on plant material while

swimming, 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.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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. Rennun and C.H. Fry for comments on a draft

of this paper.

SUMMARY

Field observations wre made of a nonbreeding migratory population of Allen's

Gallinule Porphyrio alleni at Bamburi, Mombasa, Kenya, throughout 1981.

Habitat requirements, migrations, behaviour, food, voice, moult and breeding

are described, population density is given and some comparison made with four

other water bird species sharincj 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.

BROWN, L.H. & BRITTON, P.L. (1980) The Breeding Seasons of East African

Birds. Nairobi: E. Afr. Nat. Hist. Soc.

1985

Allen's Gallinule

149

CRAMP, 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) On 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 alleni 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

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MALIMBUS 7

PROCEEDINGS of the FIFTH PAN AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL CONGRESS (held at Lilongwe

Malawi 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 when 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 would sympathise, perhaps congratulate, on the

comparatively speedy appearance of a finished volume, which is rather more th*

just a collection of papers presented at Congress. Speakers are notorious foi

promptly disappearing after a meeting into the most remote hash, to pursue

their studies yet further I

Appropriately the Proceedings starts with a trilute to the late Leslie

Brown, whose sad death at his home in Nairobi on 6th August 1980 occurred. onb

three weeks before the Congress. The Chairman, the late Con Benson, in his

speech of thanks at the closing of Conoress, mentioned what a great organisa-

tional debt was owed to Leslie Brown, who helped to finalize the scientific

program. Leslie Brown's untimely death meant that his important paper

"Systematic problems in African Falconiformes" 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 Gerard

Mbrel, the whole enlivened by informal photographs. Morel had had the

privilege of attending all P.A.O. congresses, which rominds roe 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 conoress 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; tut they now use the West African

name "Village Weaver" for this widespread species, a change which Malimbus

readers will approve'

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 Miscellaneous (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, perhap;

not surprising with Reg Moreau and Miles North present. But at the Malawi

Conoress there was only one paper on migration, dealing with timing of south

ward irovement 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

African Ornithology will 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

REVIEWS

151

papers carry clear diagrams or tables or appendices of basic data from which

the conclusions have been drawn. The few photographic illustrations are of

moderate quality. We are promised that the Proceedings 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.0 . Box 87234, Houghton, Johannesburg , South Africa

2041.

ROBERTS' BIRDS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA by Gordon L. Maclean, 5th El it ion 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 African ornithology will want to possess. From 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 compression into a single

volume, yet small enough to be used in the field (many contemporary 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 two most important changes are the text completely rewritten by

Gordon Maclean, and the replacement of the 56 original plates of Norman

Lighton by 76 modem style and much improved 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 two or more sonograms hut 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, which has made it

timely to revise the Roberts numbers (a decision that was "not undertaken

lightly") . A major improvement 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 what criteria have been used

to decide whether 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 distributional 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 1 2 languages are listed in indexes . A minor change is that weights and

measures are now in metric units.

152

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MALIMBUS 7

"Roberts" has always been an invaluable mine of information, but

Maclean's Edition is undoubtedly greatly improved all round; it will not

only be a must for all ornithologists in Southern Africa tut also has much

to coimtend it to observers in West Africa. The illustrations alone make it

very much worth while, 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 example, Ringed Plover looking as large as Greenshank. Worth

special mention are flight illustrations of Columbidae, most of which occur

in West Africa, and a nightjar plate showing spread wings and tails of both

sexes of the seven species (all of which 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 Encrlish names,

since so many of the latter differ regionally. Placing most of the

'additional' species in the last two plates has made them into very mixed

grills, with petrels and passerines figured together. Incidentally, the

most recent 'additions.' have a 'number' which is quite out of sequence with

those of their near relatives; pipits run from 716 to 726 with two new-

comers, Mountain and Red-throated Pipits numbered 901 and 903 respectively.

It would be quite inappropriate in a brief review to attempt to trace

the changes in such a successful standard of work over its history of 45

years with 5 major Editions, and many amendments at most reprintings, but

the reviewer has before him an original Austin Roberts (5th impression 1946)

with 463 pages; a McLachlan & Liversidge, 3rd Edition (1st inpression 1970)

with 642 pages and the new Maclean 5th Edition of 1984 with 848 pages. They

form a most interesting comparison, increasing size being but a measurable

aspect of steady improvement in content and usefulness.

The Maclean 'Roberts' is a veritable compendium of information,

apparently free from those blemishes that seem to occur in most modem works.

J. H. Elgood

CONSERVATION OF TROPICAL FOREST BIRDS, edited by A.W. Diamond and T.E. Lovejoy

1985, Int. Council for Bird Preservation, Cambridge, UK. Pp xiv + 318. £18.5

incl . p. & p. ISBN 0 946888 05 1. Letterpress-printed, tut otherwise havina

much the same format and feel as the laraer Proceedings of the Fifth PAOC (see

above) 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

World Conference of the ICBP at Cambridue in August 1982. Althouah the

illustrations are not always of very high standard, nearly all of the papers

most certainly are. The 21 contributions 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 omissions among the experts who have

contributed. The five papers on African birds are by J.M. Thiollay (on W7est

Africa) , S.N. Stuart (East Africa) , R.J. Dowsett (Central and Southern Africa)

A.W. Diamond (threats and sites) and A. Prigogine (Albertine Rift forests -

why this paper is in the Workshop part and not the Paleotropics part is not

apparent). In addition A. Keast'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, which

does not reflect too creditably on this journal. I should have liked him to

give an even more detailed discussion of Threats (habitat destruction, loaqinq

1985

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153

cultivation, plantation, roads, pesticides, shooting, trade) perhaps at the

expense of a 5h page table which could have been conpressed. But his devas-

tating conclusions may be allowed 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 control led . . . 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 Fed 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 what 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

which 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 book composes a nice entree for newcomers to Southern African, if not

subsaharan, birds, and is also warth 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 Programmes 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

NOTICES

MALIMBUS 7

L'AIGLE DE BONELLI ET I,E VAUTOITB PERCNOPTERE

L'Aigle de Bonelli, Hieraaetus fasciatus , et le Vautour Percnoptere,

Neophron percnopzerus , sont en voie d0 disparition dans le Midi rodditerranden

f i"ancais . Parrm les dangers qui les menacent, figurent les derangements par

les noinbreux ornithologues et photographes qui approchent certaines aires.

Nous demandons h. tous de s'abstenir de telles visites ou de prendre

contact au prdalable avec les organismes ci-dessous, charges de la surveil-

lance de ces aires.

A tous, merci de nous aider h sauver ces oiseaux.

BONELLI' S EAGLE AND EGYPTIAN VULTURE

Bonelli's Eaale, -Hieraaetus fasciatus, and the Egyptian Vulture,

Neophron percnopterus , are twc 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 oraanisations responsible for wardening the nest sites before-

hand.

Thank you for helping us save these birds.

Fonds d ' Intervention pour les Papaces

B.P. 27

92250 La Garenne-Colombes , France

BITRKINA FASO (ex UPPER VOLTA)

Yves Thonnerieux souhaite rassembler les observations d'oiseaux rdalisdes

au Burkina Faso (ex Haute-Volta) afin de rddiger une synthdse omithologique

pour ce pays d'Afrique occidentale. Les nans des correspondants seront

clairement mentionnds dans le texte final publid.

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 .

Write to / dcrire h : Yves Thonnerieux, Centre Omithologique Fhone-Alpes,

Biologie Animale et Zoologie, University Lyon I, 43 bd. du 11 novembre 1918,

69622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France.

1985

NOTICES

155

WATERFOWL CENSUS 1986

The Duck Research Group of the International Waterfowl Research Bureau

(IWRB) has for many years organized midwinter censuses of ducks in January

throuahout the western Palearctic. The counts are normally made on the

middle Sunday in January, or a week on either side. For 1985 the dates

were 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

Ma limbus can contribute for last January, particularly from northern Ghana,

Nigeria and Cameroun would be very v^lcome. Any offers of help for January

1986 would be gratefully received by IWRR, Slimbridge, Glos GL2 7BX, UK.

TWRB ' s Wader Research Group also oraanizes midwinter counts of waders

(shorebirds) . The Banc d'Arcruin and the Bijagos Archipelago 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

major sites are known 'until Walvis Bay and Sandwich Harbour in Nimibia.

It seems likely that major stopover 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?

IWRB 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 ann^es un recensement hivernal de canards dans toute la par tie

occidentale de la region paldarctique . Le recensement a lieu normalement le

dimanche central de janvier, ou pendant la semaine avant ou apr£s 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

recensements adriens ont eu lieu au Sdndgal , en Mauritanie, au Maxi, en

Haute Volta et au Chad. Le Biroe (Slimbridge, Glos GL2 7BX, Angleterre)

trfes heureux de recevoir tout renseignement supplementuire (aerien

ou terrestrel ) que les lecteurs de 'Malrmbis' on pu recolter, notamment des

donnees sur le nord du Ghana, le Nigeria et le Cameroun.

Le Groupe de recherches sur les limicoles du BIROE organise dgalement des

recensements hivernaux de lrmicoles. On sait que le Banc d Arguin et

1 ' archipel des Bijagos en Guin^e— Bissau sont d ' importance internationale ,

non seulement pour les esp^ces af rotropicales , mais aussi pour des

certaines de milliers de limicoles palearctiques pendant les pdriodes de

migration et d'hivemage. Au-dela de 1* archipel des Bijagos cependant on ^

ne connait aucun point de concentration important pour ces limicoles jusqu a

Walvis Bay et Sandwich Harbour en Namibie. II parait probable que d ' importants

lieux de concentration pour des limicoles hivemants ou en micrration doivent

exister quelque part sur la vaste dtendue de c6te entre ces deux endroits :

au Sierra Leone, dans les lagunes cdtieres de la C&te 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 h 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 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 $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 impact; they must involve a local counterpart and have clearance

from the host government and/or a local institute.

In 1985, awards went to Chris RaxwDrthy and a University of London

team to carry out the first ornithological survey of Zahamena Forest in

Madagascar, and to Duncan Reavev and an Oxford team to make a study 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 ICPP, 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 which the Editor apologizes) :

JFMAMJ JASOND

1 ad. Cap Timiris 22/11/73. 1-3

imm . and sub-ads . at pond 1 5 km

s of Nkt 6 June to early Aua

1974.

Audouin's Gull

L. audouinii

M

XXX

X

NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS

Malimbus 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 2o 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.

B ANNE RM AN 1930-51 or 1953 : Bannerman, D.A. (1930-51) The Birds of West

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

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

London

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Longmans , London

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

Birds of West Africa. Collins, London

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

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

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

Muscicapidae (Sylviinae) Part I Occasional papers of the National

Museums of Southern Rhodesia 3 (24B) : 399-130; (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

Birds in Falgore Game Reserve, Nigeria. R. Wilkinson and R. Beecroft

Bird Records from the Republic of Niger. R.A. Cheke , J.F. Walsh and

J.D.C. Fishpool

Sddentarisation de Monticola solitarius au Cap de Naze, Sdndgal. C. Rouchouse

Preuss's Cliff Swallow Hirundo preusii Breeding in Sierra Leone. Alan Tye

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

Birds of Outamba Area, Northwest Sierra Leone. Ruth E. Heppel

The Species of Parasitic Finches in West Africa. R.B. Payne

Ddcouver te d ' un Nouvel Aigle Forestier au Sdndgal l'Aigle d'Ayres Hieraaetus

dubius . A.R. Dupuy

Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis Inland in Ivory Coast and Nigeria. S.D. Eccles

Les Oiseaux des Milieux Rocheux au Sdndgal. G.J. Morel

Parasites and Diseases of Abdim's Stork Ciconia abaimli . A.U. Ezealor

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

Some Egyptian Plover Nests in Senegal. M.W. Richards and J. Boswall

Plain Nightjar at Sea off Ivory Coast. C.H. Fry

Song and Courtship of the Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea. W.A. Sontag jr.

Large-scale Movements of Common Pratincole Glareola pratincola at Juba.

F.R. Lambert

A New Northern Carmine Bee-eater Colony. J. Boswall and M.W. Richards

Notes Cornp ldmentaires sur l'Avifaune des Parcs Nationaux de l'Arli (Burkina)

et de la Pendjari (Benin). Yves Thonnerieux

Reichenbach' s Sunbird Nectar inia reichenbachii New to. Ivory Coast. S.D. Eccles

Oriole babbler Hgpergerus atriceps near Coast of Ivory Coast. S.D. Eccles

Ringing in Nigeria 1984. R.E. Sharland

Observations of Allen's Gallinule Porphyrio alleni at Mombasa, Kenya. P.B. Taylor

Reviews

6

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Notices

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