KUKILA (E-Journal)

van Balen, Bas

156 Short Communications KUKILA 10 
FIRST RECORD OF GREY HERON IN KALIMANTAN 
by
 
S. (Bas) van Balen
 
(Received 1 June 1998)
 
During a survey along the Tubu river, Bulungan district, northern East Kalimantan, in 
November December 1997, a large heron was seen at ca 17.00 hrs on 18 November flying to a roosting 
tree along the Malinau river bank near Parking village. Its generally very pale grey appearance, with 
distinct black lining along the neck and contrasting pale grey and black wings was diagnostic of the 
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea and excluded any other large heron occurring in the area. On 3 December at 
17.30 hrs, probably the same bird was seen standing on the river bank in the same general area. The 
riverine area is partially agricultural, and lies a considerable distance inland. The town of Malinau, 
downstream of the mouth of the river of that name, is already I 10 km inland. 
The Grey Heron is an occasional visitor to Bomeo between November and March, e.g. to the 
wide open plains of the Kelabit uplands (Smythies 1981), 70 to 90 km from the present area. The 
species is presumed to be migrant, and there is no evidence of breeding. The Grey Heron has not been 
recorded previously from Kalimantan (Andrew 1992). 
157 1998 Short Communications 
Acknowledgements 
My thanks are extended to the Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR, Bogor) and the 
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS Indonesia Programme, Bogor) for providing the opportunity to 
visit the Tubu uplands. 
References 
Andrew. P. 1992. The birds of Indonesia. A checklist (Peters' sequence). Jakarta: Indonesian 
Ornithological Society. 
Smythies, B.E. 1981. The birds of Borneo. Third edition. The Sabah Society with the Malayan Nature 
Society. 
Address. 
Tropical Nature Conservation and Vertebrate Ecology, Wageningen Agricultural University, 
Bomsesteeg 69, 6708 PD Wageningen, The Netherlands. 


English

First record of Grey Heron in Kalimantan

Grantham, Mark

160 Short Communications KUKILA 10 
SHORT NOTE ON PURPLE HERON
 
CONSISTENTLY FEEDING IN A COFFEE PLANTATION
 
by
 
Mark Grantham
 
Over several days in early May 1998, Dibyo fromAKASIANature Club (Jember University), observed 
a heron Ardea sp. repeatedly feeding in a coffee plantation in Meru Betiri National Park, SE Java 
(113°58'10"E, 8°33'10"S). On 29 May, I accompanied him to the area and we flushed an adult Purple 
Heron A. purpurea from the plantation in exactly the same area as the previous sightings. 
When perched near the observers, the crop of the bird was seen to be very swollen, indicating, 
that it was actively feeding in the area. The coffee plantation is very dry, with no standing water or 
irrigation channels. The relatively open canopy covers a short grass dominated ground layer. Severall 
mature, ornamental trees were scattered around the plantation, in which the bird occasionally perched, 
together with some rubber trees along tracks and roads. The site was some 500 m from the nearest river, 
and over 2 km from the nearest coast, which is steep and rocky. It was not clear what the bird was 
feeding on, as it was not possible to approach closely while it was feeding. There appeared to be: no 
obvious large prey items on the ground (e.g. frogs or invertebrates), although probably small lizards are 
common. 
Following this record, two Woolly necked Storks Ciconia episcopus were seen in the same area on 29 
August 1998.After two days of intermittent heavy rain, these birds were feeding in small puddles along 
the rough track, but also spending time searching for prey in the (now rain soaked) plantation itself. 
Under such conditions, prey such as amphibians presumably would be more active and available. 


Short note on Purple Heron consistently feeding in a coffee plantation

Bishop, K D

King, Ben

The Sunda Serin Serinus estherae in Sulawesi

Helvoort, Bastiaan E

A breeding record of Great Thick-knee Esacus maqnirostris on Bali

Short note on the occurrence of grey phase Black-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus atriceps especially on Java

During the preparation of The Birds of Wallacea (White &amp; Bruce 1986), some small island records for the Lesser Sundas were unintentionally omitted although originally covered during the initial compilation of locality data. Their exclusion was due to the long and discontinuous preparation of the annotated checklist. Their inclusion here is offered as a first contribution supplementing the checklist data. A few brief annotations have also been included

Bruce, Murray D

ADDITIONS TO THE BIRDS OF WALLACEA. I.

BIRD RECORDS FROM SMALLER ISLANDS IN THE LESSER SUNDAS

by Murray D. Bruce

(First draft received June 27,1986 )

During the preparation of The Birds of Wallacea ( White & Brace 1986), some 

small island records for the Lesser Sundas were unintentionally omitted 

although originally covered during the initial compilation of locality 

data. Their exclusion was due to the long and discontinuous preparation of 

the annotated checklist. Their inclusion here is offered as a first 

contribution supplementing the checklist data. A few brief annotations 

have also been included.

The records listed below cover 20 small islands and have mostly been long 

overlooked. They are listed in a descending order of the number of 

individual records omitted, while a majority are based on specimen

records, several represent sight records of early collectors quoted 

incollection reports. Under each island the source references are cited. 

For additional information on the species covered see White S Bruce (1986). 

The cutoff date for the checklist, with very few exceptions, was December 

1983. I hope to summarise more recent records and other topics in 

subsequent contributions on Wallacea [but a few have been appended here]. 

For periodic updates in Kukila all contributions (published or 

unpublished) can be submitted directly to me or c/o The Editors, Kukila.

1. Semau (southwest of Timor)

The last collection from Semau was by C.B. Haniel (Hellmayr 1914). The 

following records are taken from Hellmayr's report, but see also the report 

of the L. Loria collection by Salvador (1890).

Fregata minor Saxicola caprata

Falco moluccensis Cisticola juncidis 

Streptopelia chinensia Myiagra ruficollis 

Chalcophaps indica Monarcha trivirgatus 

Geopelia maugei Rhipidura rufiventris 

Ducula rosacea Anthus novaeseelandiae 

Halcyon chloris Artamus cinereus 

Lalage sueurii Meliphaga reticulata 

Oriolus melanotis Lichemera indisticta

Sphecotheres viridis

2. Paloe (north of Flores)

All records are based on the report by Verheijen (1961) of his brief visit 

in 1960.

Megapodius reinwardt Ducula aenea

Gallus varius Eudynamys scolopacea

Turnix suscitator Scythrops novaehollandiae

Streptopelia bitorquata Centropus bengalensis

S. chinensis * Tyto alba (?)

Macropygia emiliana * Apus pacificus (?)

Chalcophaps indica Zosterops chloris

Geopelia maugei Lonchura pallida

Ptilinopus melanospila

* Sight records also queried by Verheijen, but both are very likely to occur 

on Paloe.

39

3. Satonda (off northern Sumbaw)

From the brief visit by Williu Ooherty (Hartert 1896: 574).

Turnix suscitator Ficedula dumetoria 

Eudynaays scolopacea Momurcba cinerascens 

Centropus bengalensis Artanus leucorhynchus 

Caprimulgus macrurus IMctarinia jugularis 

Eurystonius orientalis Lophoxosfcerops dohertyi 

Cisticola juncidis

4. Sangeang ( or Gunungapi; off northeast Sumbawa)

From the brief visit of the 'narchesa' (Guillemard 1885).

Haliastur Indus Saxicola caprata 

Streptopelia chinensis Pachycephala pectoralis 

Chalcophaps indica Parus major 

Geopelia maugei Nectarinia jugularis

Note : In White S Bruce (1986: 316) Dicrurus densus (subsp. biaaenais) is 

listed for Gunungapi (= Sangeang), not Gunungapi in the Banda Sea.

5. Wetar (north of Timor)

From the visit by Heinrich Kuhn (Hartert 1904).

Ardea novaehollandiae Dicaeum maugei

* Cuculus saturatus (?) Lonchura punctulata 

Scythrops novaehollandiae Lonchura pallida

* Tyto alba (7)

* 	 These are sight records identified by K'uhn in the field; both are quite 

likely to occur and Kuhn knew the birds in these islands where he lived 

and collected. However, both records need confirmation, particularly 

the Barn Owl Tyto alba, an interesting record on an island otherwise 

only known to be inhabited by a resident scops-owl (Otus nagicus then 

only discovered by Kuhn); but the Brown Hawk-Owl Ninox scutulata has 

been recorded as a winter visitor.

Note: Also amongst Kuhn's sight records, Hartert noted "a gull" (p.175). 

In White 6 Bruce (1986) no gulls are recorded for Wallacea, but I

noted several possibilities, with Larus ridibundus the most likely

to occur (p.185). Kuhn's observation may have been this species.

6. Alor (north of Timor)

From the visit by Alfred Everett (Hartert 1898)

Pandion haliaetus Scythrops novaehollandiae 

Haliaeetus leucogaster

Note: 	 Everett also recorded the presence of a thrush, but none have yet 

been collected on Alor. Possibly  Zoothera andromedae.

40

7. Gunungapi (in the south of the Banda Sea)

From the visit by A. Hoogerwerf in 1938 (van Bemrnel s Hoogerwerf 1940).

Egretta sacra Megapodius reinwardt

Falco peregrinus * + Coracina novaehollandiae

* In White & Bruce (1986: 136), Hartert's (1904: 190) record of an 

Australian subspecies of Peregrine from Wetar was shown to apply to the 

resident subspecies ernesti. The discussion overlooked Hartert's own 

correction of the error (cf. 1906: 292).

+ Further to the discussion of migration to Wallacea of this cuckoo-shrike 

in white & Bruce (1986: 300), see also Mees (1961) and Hoogerwerf (1966).

8. Sawu (southwest of Timor)

From the visit by Everett (Hartert 1897a).

Fregata minor (?) * + Stiltia Isabella

Egretta alba (?) * Centropus bengalensis

* Based on sight records by Everett and confirmation needed, although both 

undoubtedly occur.

+ In White & Bruce (1986: 178), Timor should be indicated as the type 

locality of this bird.

9. Adonara (east of Flores)

From the visit by H. ten Kate (Blittikofer 1892).

Halcyon chloris Anthreptes malacensis

Pachycephala pectoralis

10. Daweloor (east of Babar)

From material sent by J.G.F. Riedel (Meyer 1882).

Streptopelia chinensis Halcyon chloris

Geopelia maugei

11. Luang (east of Timor)

From two visits by Kuhn (Hartert 1906a, 1911a)

Egretta sacra Dicrurus densus 

Esacus magnirostris

12. Babar (west of Tanimbar Islands)

From the visit by Kuhn (Hartert 1906b).

Cuculus pallidus Chrysococcyx osculans

Both records of these migratory cuckoos are noteworthy as their records 

from Wallacea are few. However, the Pallid Cuckoo may be a resident species 

on Timor and Flores (cf. White & Bruce 1986: 232).

41

13. Cera (=Sera) (west part of Tanimbar Islands)

From material sent by J.G.F. Riedel (Heyar 1882). 

Ducula concinna Eclectus roratus 

Two additional Tanimbar records known only from Riedel material, but 

occurrence questioned by Hartert (1901: 176)

Streptopelia chinensis Trichoglossus euteles 

14. Moa (east of Timor)

From the visit by Kuhn (Hartert 1904).

Hirundo tahitica Lonchura punctulata 

15. Romang (northeast of Timor)

From the visit by Kuhn  (Hartert 1904).

Haliastur indus Haliaeetus leucogaster

16. Leti (east of Timor)

From the visit by Kuhn  (Hartert 1904).

Hirundo tahitica.

17. Lomblen (east of Flores)

From the visit by Doherty (Hartert 1898).

Turnix maculosa.

18. Sermata (east of Timor)

From the visit by Kuhn (Hartert 1911b).

Egretta alba

19. Solor (east of Floras)

From the visit by Wallace (cf. Sharpe 1892).

Halcyon chloris

20. Wedan (near Babar)

From a brief visit by Doherty (.Hartert 1904).

Pachycephala leucogastra

42

I also append four brief items to this article :

1. Two other overlooked records :

Flores: Anthus gustavi -- two collected by Everett at Manggarai, Oct 1896 

(Hartert 1897b: 521), but the species is not mentioned in the summary 

of Schmutz (1977).

Lombok: Fregata minor -- observed by Vorderman in Oc.t 1894 (cf. Vorderman 

1895: 352).

2. Three new records from Sumba :

Mr. John L. McKean very kindly provided me with some of his bird 

observations from a brief visit to Sumba in June 1986. Three species are new 

for Sumba:

Himantopus leucocephalus * Chlidonias hybridus 

Stiltia isabella

* This is also the first record of the Whiskered Tern for the Lesser Sunda 

Islands.

3. An Addition to the Historical Synopsis :

In White & Bruce (1986: 68-75) I provided an Historical Synopsis of 

ornithological exploration in Wallacea. On p. 74 add the following:

105a. J. Berlioz 1935. Observations: Lombok, Sulawesi (Berlioz 1936; 

see also 1935).

The only record of note is Berlioz's report of a Nicobar Pigeon 

Caloenas nicobarica captured locally, and confirming the sight 

record of Gorst (1935).

4. Addition to the Bibliography :

Add Diamond & Marshall (1976) -- see White S Bruce (1986: 275).

Ringkasan

Sejumlah jenis burung yang ditemukan dan sebagian diamati di 20 pulau kecil 

di Kepulauan Sunda Kecil (Nusa Tenggara Barat dan Timur) ditambahkan ke 

dalam daftar jenis burung yang diterbitkan dalam buku The birds of 

Wallacea. Jenis - jenis burung dari ke-20 pulau ini, meskipun pada awal 

kerjanya telah disiapkan untuk dimasukkan dalam buku tsb, namun 

tersisihkan karena penyelesaiannya lama tertunda. Selain itu Anthus 

gustavi, hasil koleksi Everett di Manggarai pada bulan October 1896, 

ditambahkan dalam daftar jenis burung untuk Flores demikian juga Fregata

minor yang diamati Vorderman pada bulan October 1894, ditambahkan dalam 

daftar jenis burung untuk Lombok. Himantopus leucocephalus, Stiltia 

isabella, dan Chlidonias hybridus yang diamati John L. McKean pada bulan 

Juni 1986, adalah merupakan jenis-jenis burung yang baru tercatat untuk 

Sumba, bahkan C. hybridus merupakan jenis burung camar pertama tercatat 

untuk Kepulauan Sunda Kecil.

43

References

Berlioz, J. 1935. Notes ornithologiques au cours d'un voyage en Malaisle. 

L'Oiseau et RFO (n.s.) 5: 389-421.

, 1936. Notes ornithologiques au cours d'un deuxieme voyage en Malaisie. 

L'Oiseau et RFO (n.s.) 6: 1-50.

Bu'ttikofer, J. 1892. On a collection of birds fro» the islands of Flores, 

Suaiba and Rotti. Notes Leyden Mus. 14: 193-207.

Diamond, J.H. & Marshall, A.G. 1976. Origin of the New Hebridean avifauna. 

Emu 76: 187-200.

Guillemard, F.H.H. 1885. Report on the collections of birds made during the 

voyage of the yacht 'Marchesa'. Part III. On the collection of birds 

from Sumbawa. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond.: 501-511.

Hartert, E. 1896. An account of the collections of birds made by Mr.William 

Doherty in the Eastern Archipelago. Novit. Zool. 3: 537-590.

. 1897a. On the birds collected by Mr. Everett on the island of Savu. 

Novit. Zool . 4: 263-273
-
. 1897b. On the birds collected by Mr. Everett in south Flores. Part I. 

Novit. Zool.  4: 513-528.

. 1898. On the birds of Lomblen, Pantar, and Alor. Novit. Zool. 6: 455
-
476.

. 	1901. On a collection of birds from the Timor-laut Islands. Novit. Zool

. 8: 163-176.

. 1904. The birds of the South-Nest Islands of Wetter, Roma, Kisser, 

Letti and Moa. Novit. Zool . 11:174-221.

. 1906a. On the birds of Luang. Novit. Zool . 13: 302-304.

. l906b. On the birds of the island of Babber. Novit. Zool . 13; 288-302.

. 191 la. Additions to the avifauna of Luang. Novit. Zool . 18: 170.

. 1911b. On the birdsof Sermatta, one of the South-West Islands. Novit. 

Zool . 18: 161-167.

Hellmayr, C.E. 1914. Die Avifauna von Timor. (In) C.B. Haniel (ed.), 

Zoologie von Timor ; Ergebnisse der unter Leitung von Joh. wanner im 

Jahre 1911. Ausgefuhrten Timor-Expedi tion. Lief . 1: 1-112.

44

Hoogerwerf, A. 1966. On some strange birds from the islands of Komodo and 

Rintja between Sumbawa and Flores (Lesser  Sunda Islands). Misc. Repts 

Yamashina Inst. Orn. Zool . 4: 488-497 (86-95].

Horst, 0. 1935. Een tocht naar de Segara Anak, het Kratermeer van e 

Rindjani, Lombok . Trop. Nat. 24:179-186.

Mees, G.F. 1961. An annotated catalogue of a collection of bird-skins from 

West pilbara. Western Australia. J.R. Soc. West. Aust. 14: 97-143.

Meyer, A.B. 1882. Ueber Vogel von einigen der sudostlichen Insein des 

malayischen Archipels, insbesondere uber diejenigen Sumba's. Verh.
-
K.K. Zool. -hot. Ges. Wien 31 [1881) : 759-774.

Salvadori , T. 1890. Viaggio di Laaberto Loria nella Papuasia orientale. I. 

Collezioni Ornitologiche.Nota prima. Uccelli di Pulo penang, di Timor 

Cupang, di Pulo Semau e di Porto Darwin. Ann. Mus. Civ. Geneva (2)

9:476-505.

Schmutz, E. 1977. Die Vogel von Manggarai (Flores) . Ruteng,

Flores:Author. 104 pp.

Sharpe, R.B. 1892. Catalogue of the Picariae . Coraciae and Halcyones.

(In) Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum. Vol. 17: xii + 346 pp.

van Bemmel, A.C.V. & Hoogerwerf, A. 1940. The birds of Goenoeng Api. 

Treubia 17: 421-472 + 33 pll.

Verheijen, J.A.J. 1961. Some notes on the birds of the island of Palue, 

Flores, observed from 13 April to 5 May 1960.  Ardea 49: 183-187.

vorderman, A.G. 1895. Lombok-Vogels. Nat. Tijdschr. Ned. Ind . 54: 327
-
353.

White, C.M.N. S Bruce, M.D. 1986. The Birds of Wallacea (Sulawesi, The 

Moluccas & Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia). Brit. Orn. Union. Checkl. 

7: 1-524.

Address ;

8 Spurwood Road, Turramurra. NSW 2074, Australia.

45



Additions to the birds of Wallacea. I. Bird recordsfrom smaller islands in the Lesser Sundas

Kennerly, Peter R

Erftemeijer, P., G. Alien & Zuwendra. 1989. Nature conservation and 

sustainable resource utilization in Bintuni Bay, Irian Joya. Asian Wetland 

Bureau - PWA report, Bogor.

Addresses :

Paul L.A. Erftemeijer, Laan van Meerdervoort 556, 2563 BL 's-a-avanhage,

'The Nether landB.

Gerald R. A 11 en. Western Australian Museum, Francis Street, Perth,

Western Australia 6000.

A RECORD OF A Bradypterus WARBLER

PROBABLY BREEDING IN BALI

by Peter R. Kennerly

(Final draft received 4 OKtear 1989)

Late evening on 20 June 1989, while birdwatching near Lake Bratan, Bali, I

heard a bird In song which sounded very similar to the song of Bradypterus 

seebohmi from southern China. Knowing that there were no records of any

Bradypterus warblers from Ball, although B. (seffbohmi) mentis occurs in

eastern Java, I dismissed the song as being that of so«e other species with

which I was unfami1iar.

At dawn on 21 June, I was ascending a tree-covered hillside dose to where I

heard the song the previous evening when I heard the same song again, The

song, a very distinctive and monotonous "zeeurt zeeurt" repeated at

intervals of approximately 0.5 seconds, was being delivered fro* higher up

the hi 11. White the song was very similar to that; given by B. Seebohmi in 

southern China, with which I am familiar, it was slightly less piercing and

rather more buzzing.

I started to climb the hill to the point where the song was coming from but

almost immediately, I disturbed a bird from underfoot which, as it moved,

uttered a quiet "tuk" call. The bird moved into a dump of ferns and although

rather skulking, it did eventually give good prolonged views and was

watched continuously for some 15 minutes. This bird was dearly a warbler

and greatly resembled Bradypterus seebohmi from southern China.

Plumage description

Upperparts

The whole of the upperparts including the mantle, wings, rump and tail were

a dark ruseet brown colour, lacking any contrast. The dosed wing was quite

uniform and did not exhibit any fringes to the feather edges. The tail was

quite long and noticeably graduated.

Head

The nape and crown were dark russet brown, similar in colour to the 

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remainder of the upperparts. The head was marked by a very indistinct

greyish supercilium which was barely discernible over the eye and became

diffuse over the ear coverts. There was a narrow brown eye stripe running

through the eye and below this, the ear coverts were distinctly grey.

under-parts

The chin and throat were pale brown as were the breast and flanks; paler and

more fulvous than the upperparts. The upper breast was marked with an

indistinct narrow gorget of spots, at times quite difficult to discern but 

obvious when the bird was seen head on. 

The belly was whitish but" the undertail coverts were the same colour as the

flanks and appeared to lack any dark terminal fringes.

Soft parts

The bill was entirely black while the legs were pale pink and quite thick.

The eye was dark and there was no obvious eye-ring.

Differences between the Ball birds and 8. seetsohmi in southern China 

Despite their overall similarity, there were minor differences between the

birds seen in Bali and those previously seen at Ba Bao Shan, Guangdong

province, China, most recently in June 1988. These differences were:

1. The ear coverts of the Bali bird appeared grey while those of the

Chinese birds are brown.

2. The undertail coverts of the Chinese birds usually show strongly marked

fringes to the feathers. The Bali birds lacked this feature.

3. The song of the Ball birds, while very similar to the Chinese birds, was

slightly more buzzing and did not have quite such an obvious break in

the two parts of the song. The song of the Ball birds could be described

as "zeeurt" while that of the Chinese birds "cree-ut". However, the

differences were minor and did not detract from the similarity of the

two songs.

Behaviour

This individual appeared to have been disturbed from a nearby nest. It

never left the immediate vicinity of the area where it wasorigina11y

located and throughout the period of observation, it carried a beakful of

insects and collected others while being watched.

It spent most of its time very close to the ground in the dump of ferns;

running along the fronds and occasionally descending on to the ground where

it ran rather than hopped. It made occasional "tuk" calls while being

watched.

Throughout the period of observation, the "zeeurt" song had continued

without a break higher up the hill. After ensuring that I had made detailed 

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notes of the original bird, I ascended the hi 11 to confirm that the singing

bird was indeed the same species as that which I had just been observing.

This individual proved to be more difficult to observe well as it was

singing from the centre of a dump of ferns. Eventually however, it did come

out into the open and gave good but brief views. It appeared to be identical

to the original bird apart from the throat which appeared to be whiter;

perhaps an impression created by the feathers being fluffed out as the bird

held its head back while singing.

Discussion 

The plumage and song of this Bradyptwus warbler was extremely similar to

that associated with B. seebohmi in southern China. While this species does

exhibit regional variation in its song throughout its range, it does seem

remarkable that the birds on Bali, whatever their final identity is proven

to be, should look and sound so similar to B. seebohmi whose nearest 

population occurs in northern Thailand, some 3500km to the northwest.

Address:

Flat 2c, Crane Court, 45 Sassoon Road, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.

REVIEWS

BIRDS OF JAVA AND BALI

Java has a long and distinguished ornithological history. It is the type

locality for many species widespread in the Indo-Malayan region and has a

massive ornithological bibliography. But still surprisingly little is

known about the ecology of its birds. The monumental, two volume work of

Kuroda (1933, 1936 The birds of the island of Java) was pedantic in its

synonymy, descriptions and references, but dealt more with specimens than

species; it did not, for instance, describe;a single call. For the last

fifty years, whilst ornithologists elsewhere were concentrating on the

habits and habitat of apecies, Java was an ornithological backwater. And

yet, the island has a fascinating avifauna; set on the edge of the Sunda

Shelf and the first of the Greater Sundas to be separated from the

continental landmass it possesses a host of endemic forms and the study of

its fauna is crucial to an understanding of the biogeography of the whole

region.

Unfortunately, this fauna is already much depleted. The changes wrought on

the island in the latter half of this century have been massive: the

population has exploded to 95 million, the lowland rain-forest has all but 

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A record of a Bradypterus warbler probably breeding in Bali

During the preparation of The Guide to the Birds of Wallacea, and a review of the conservation and status of Wallacea's endemic birds, it became clear that reviews of little know species or species groups would perhaps aid those species' conservation by drawing attention to them. Secondly such accounts would also provide a useful resource to the growing number of field workers in this, until recently, sadly neglected region. This first account deals with three virtually unknown Tyto Owls endemic to Wallacea

Bishop, K David

LITTLE KNOWN Tyto OWLS OF WALLACEA

By K. David Bishop

(First draft received 5 July 1988)

During the preparation of The Guide to the Birds of Wallacea, and a 

review of the conservation and status of Wallacea's endemic birds, it 

became clear that reviews of little know species or species groups 

would perhaps aid those species' conservation by drawing attention to 

them. Secondly such accounts would also provide a useful resource to 

the growing number of field workers in this, until recently, sadly 

neglected region. This first account deals with three virtually 

unknown Tyto Owls endemic to Wallacea.

Tyto sororcula Lesser Masked Owl

Distribution : Tyto sororcula cayelii is known from the unique type, an 

adult, collected during October 1989 by William Doherty near Kaleji 

Bay on the extreme east coast of Buru (Hartert 1900). The only other 

record of this subspecies is of an adult mate; not a female as cited in 

White & Bruce (1986) (see Siebbers 1930), collected by L.J. Toxopeus 

near the Was (River) Eno on 7 April 1921 (Siebers 1930). A second 

specimen collected by Toxopeus was subsequently tost (White & Bruce 

1986).

Buru has not been ornithological1y surveyed since 1921, with the 

exception of a seven day visit by Fred Smiet during November 1980 

(Smiet 1985). However, Smiet was primarily concerned with locating 

suitable conservation areas. He did not record T. s. Cayelii.

Tyto sororcula sororcula is known from an adult female, collected by 

Henry 0. Forbes on 24 September 1882 on the island of Larat in the 

Tanimbar Islands (Sclater 1883) and a second adult female, collected 

forty years later by F. Kopstein on 22 April 1923 (Stresemann 1934). 

The island on which this latter specimen was collected is unknown. The 

Tanimbar Islands were not ornithological1y surveyed again until 

recently. During 13-23 October 1981 Smiet visited the largest island, 

Yamdena, and a number of coastal islets in order to determine suitable 

conservation areas (Anon 1981a). Despite making a number of useful 

bird observations (see White & Bruce 1986) he did not record T. s. 

sororcula. During 23 August to 8 November 1985 Frank Rozendaal made a 

thorough ornithological survey of Yamdena but also failed to find this 

owl (Vide Collar & Andrew 1988).

Habitat : No data on the precise locality, altitude or habitat was 

recorded for any of the specimens or in any of the literature detailing 

their collection. However Kaleji Bay and the Wae Eno on Buru are both 

lowland areas and presumably would have been covered at one time with 

moist tropical lowland forest (Vide Anon 1981a).The Tanimbar Islands 

37

are mostly flat; Yamdena is still covered with large areas .of primary 

and mature secondary monsoon woodland (Anon 1981a), whereas the 

forests on Larat may be seriously degraded (Heinrich Kuhn, in Hartert 

1901).

Conservation: Much of Buru's flat lowland forests, especially within 

5km of the coast, have been selectively logged and areas of rich 

alluvial soils such as Kaleji Bay have been converted to agriculture 

(Anon 1981b and pers obs). Two reserves totalling an area of c 141 000 

ha have been proposed (Anon 1981b). Neither have been ornithologically 

surveyed. In the Tanimbar islands four areas with a total of c 65 000 ha 

have been proposed as reserves (Anon 1981b). However, two of the sites 

are tiny offshore islets and the third is a small area of scrubby, 

coastal woodland. The only reserve site of any potential conservation 

value is an area of c 60 000 ha of monsoon woodland across the centre of 

Yamdena. This area has been only briefly ornithological1y surveyed. 

Unfortunately, as Rozendaal (in Collar & Andrew 1988) points out, the 

physical nature of the Tanimbar Islands makes them a very attractive 

prospect for commercial timber extraction and this may have to be 

contended with in the near future.

Tyto inexspectata Minahasa Owl

Distribution: The unique type was collected by S.C.I.W. van 

Musschenbroek during 1876 near Manado in the hills of NE Sulawesi, 

(Kabupaten Minahasa) (Schlegel 1879). Although the specimen is 

unsexed, Mees (pers comm) suggests its large size agrees more with 

Coomans de Ruiter's "giant" female specimen than with any of the 

identified male specimens. During Gerhard Heinrich's lengthy and very 

productive period of field work throughout Sulawesi 1930-1932 

(Stresemann 1940-41), he collected four specimens, also from the 

north-east. During 1939, Coomans de Ruiter collected a further four 

specimens again from the northeast (Van Marle 1940). Collecting 

locations of all nine specimen are shown on Figure 1. Two of the four 

specimens collected by Coomans de Ruiter were a pair that he had 

earlier observed on 8 April 1939. The two birds, were seen attending 

what appeared to be a nest hole in a tree Elmerrillia ovalis "de dandy 

bloom" on the slopes of Mt. Koemeresot (Van Marle 1940). This would 

appear to be the only observation of any of the "golden owls" nesting.

Although Sulawesi is ornithological1y the most well documented island 

in Wallacea and has been the subject of a number of surveys since the 

time of Coomans de Ruiter, T. inexspectata was not recorded again until 

1980. On 21 November 1980 an unsexed adult was found dead at 750m close 

to forest in the Lore Lindu NP (Watling 1983). The specimen, the first 

record of this species outside Kabupaten Minahasa, NE Sulawesi, was 

deposited at the BMNH, Birds, Tring. The eleventh and last specimen, a 

male, was found alive by national park rangers near Toraut in the 

Dumoga-Bone national park, during early October 1981. It died in 

captivity and the entire specimen was deposited at the Rijksmuseum van 

38

Natuurlijke Historie, Leiden, Netherlands (Mees, pers comm). The 

latter two specimens contain probably the only preserved skeletons of 

this interesting species.

Habitat : Primary lowland and hill forest and, at least occasionally, 

forest edge; 100m to 1500m above sea level.

Population : Unknown. Recorded from just eleven specimens and rarely 

observed in the field. As with other forest dwelling members of this 

genus T. inexspectata is apparently widely but sparsely distributed, 

shy and easily overlooked.

Nomenclature: As noted by Watting (1983) the discovery of this species 

in NCen Sulawesi renders the name Minahasa Owl obsolete. It is proposed 

that in the forthcoming Guide to the birds of Wallacea the name 

Sulawesi Golden Owl will be used. This name reflects the bird's 

distribution, plumage colouration and links with a distinct sub-group 

within the genus Tyto.

39

Conservation: destruction of what appears to be its characteristic 

habitat in the area from which nine of the eleven specimens were 

collected, Kabupaten Minahasa, is almost complete, with the exception 

of a few remnant patches. As of 1982 the gross area of lowland, hill and 

montane forest remaining in the whole of North Sulawesi Province 

(including Kabupaten Minahasa) was slightly more than 1.5 million 

hectares (David Wall pers comm. to Derek Holmes). However, this figure 

includes large areas of secondary, disturbed and commercially

utilised forest and a wide range of forest types, many of which are 

probably unsuitable for r. inexspactata. This factor coupled with its 

apparent low population density is cause for considerable concern. 

However, twenty one reserves with an approximate total land area of c 

900 000 ha have been proposed and/or established within the general 

known range of this species (Anon 1982). T. nexspectata has been 

recorded from two of the largest, biologically most important and best 

administered parks in Wallacea: Dumoga-Bone NP (278 700 ha) in the 

northern peninsula and Lore Lindu NP (229 000 ha) in NCen Sulawesi. A 

third site from which it was recorded fifty years ago, Mt Soputan (13 

433 ha), has not been surveyed ornithologically since the time of 

Coomans de Ruiter. The status of its forests is unknown. A number of 

other reserves such as Tangkoko Dua Saudara (8 867 ha), Mt Simbalang (c 

15 000 ha) and Morowati (200 000 ha) could also be of considerable 

conservation value to this species' survival, though the presence of 

T. inexpectata within these areas has not yet been established. The 

Morowati reserve is a large area of hilly and mountainous forest and at 

present well isolated from serious human disturbance. However, to date 

only a bare list of species recorded there during a brief survey has 

been published (Anon 1980).

Tyto nigrobrunnea Taliabu Owl

Distribution: Known only from the type specimen, an adult female, 

0 0
collected on the island of Taliabu, Sula Islands (2 S, 125 E); it was 

procured by the local hunters employed by the collector J.J. Menden. 

The specimen is at the Staattiche Museum fur Tierkunde, Dresden (M.D. 

Bruce, pers comm).

Habitat : Unknown. No data concerning the precise locality, altitude 

or habitat were included on the specimen label or in the original 

description of the type specimen (see Neumann 1939).

Conservation : The Sula Islands, are some of the ornithologically 

least known islands in Wallacea. There are no published field 

observations of any of their endemic birds and little information can 

be gleaned from the few specimens collected (pers obs). Notably the FAO 

National Conservation Plan for Indonesia programme failed to include 

the 8u1a Islands in their field surveys even though a reserve of c. 70 

000 ha was proposed, based on the central Tallabu mountains, (Anon 

1981b). This area has not been ornithologically surveyed. Brief aerial 

views of the Sula Islands during 1986 - 1988 (pers obs) suggest that 

40

most of the flat lowlands of Taliabu Island and the coastal strip on 

Mangole Island have been converted to human habitation and 

cultivation. However, large areas of forest are still present on 

Mangole and the smaller island of Sanana. The entire island group has 

been parcelled out in commercial timber concessions (PT. Mangole pers 

comm) and this does not inspire much optimism for the future 

conservation of these islands' endemic birds.

Conclusion

All three species are virtually unknown in the wild. This factor 

coupled with the continuing destruct-ion to their native forests 

suggests that their numbers are severely reduced and that they may be 

threatened (vide Collar & Andrew 1988). It is recommended here that all 

three species are placed on the Bird Red Data List in the category 

indeterminate. Furthermore, they should be included in Indonesia's 

list of protected species and be afforded the protection provided 

under the legislation "Undang-undang Perlindungan Binatang-binatang 

liar 19 no.134".

References

Anon. 1980. Morowali Nature Reserve: A Plan for Conservation. WWF 

report.

Anon. 1981a. Results of Feasibility Studies and Proposals for 

Conservations Areas in Maluku Tenggara. Field Report of UNDP/FAO 

National Parks Development Project INS/78.061.

Anon.1981b. National Conservation Plan for Indonesia. VII Maluku and 

Irian Jaya. Field Report of UNDP/FAO National Parks Development 

Project INS/78.061.

Anon. 1982. National Conservation Plan for Indonesia. VI Sulawesi.

Field Report of UNDP/FAO National Parks Development Project 

INS/78.061.

Collar, N.J. & P. Andrew. 1988. Birds to Watch. The ICBP World Check 

List of Threatened Birds. Technical Publication no. 8.

Eck, S. 1977. Erganzendes uber die Vogel der Insel Taliabu, Sula-

Inseln. Zoo1. Abh. Staatl. Mus. Tiark. Dresden 3:127-133.

Hartert, E. 1900. The birds of Buru, being a list of collections made 

on that island by Messrs. William Doherty and Dumas. Novit Zoo1.

7:226-242.

Hartert, E. 1901. On a collection of birds from the Timor Laut Islands. 

Novit Zoo1. 8: 163-176.

41

King, W.B. 1981. The Endangered birds of the World. The ICBP Bird Red 

Data Book. Washington. Smithsonian Institution Press.

Neumann, 0. 1939. A new species and eight new races from Pel ing and 

Taliaboe. Bull. Brit. Or. C1. 59: 89-94.

Schlegel, H. 1879. Note XVIII on Strix inexspectata. Notes from the 

Leyden Museum 1: 50-52.

Schodde, R. & I.J. Mason. 1980. Nocturnal 'Birds of Australia.

Melbourne: Landsdowne.

Sclater, P.L. 1883. On the birds collected in the. Timorlaut or 

Tenimber group of Islands by Mr. Henry 0. Forbes. Proc. Zool.Soc. 

Lond. 1883: 48-58.

Siebers, H.C. 1930. Fauna Buruana. Avas. Treubia 7, Suppl.:

165- 303.

Smiet, F. 1985. Notes on the Field status and Trade of Moluccan 

Parrots. Biol. Cons. 34: 181-194.

Stresemann, E. 1934. Uber Vogel, gesammelt von Dr. F. Kopstein auf den 

Sud-Molukken und Tenimber 1922-1924 Zoo 7. Meded. 17: 15-19.

Stresemann,"E. 1940. Die Vogel von Celebes. Tei1 I und II. Biologische 

Beitrage von Gerd. Heinrich. J. Fur. Orn. 87: 299- 425.

Van Mar1e, J.G. 1940. Aanteekeningen omtrent de vogels van de Minahasa 

(N.O. - Celebes). Limosa 13: 119-124.

Watling, D. 1983. Ornithological notes from Sulawesi. Emu. 83:247
-
261.

White, C.M.N. & M.D. Bruce. The Birds of Wallacea. (Sulawesi, The 

Moluccas, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia). An Annotated 

Checklist. British Ornithologists' Union, London. BOU.

Zimmer, J.T. & E. Mayr. 1943. New species of birds described from 1938 

to 1941. Auk 60: 249-262.

42

Acknowledgements

It is my pleasure to thank the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology 

(Los Angeles) for funds which enabled me to undertake some of the field 

work in Wallaces and for access to their fine library; to the Frank 

Chapman Fund for a grant enabling me to study at the AMNH, New York; to 

Mary LeCroy for her ever generous help and patience; to Jim Clements 

for his enthusiasm and generosity; Carol Cantrell and her colleagues 

of the Australian National Museum Library; Anne Tate, librarian, Bird 

Dept.', BMNH( Tring);

Peter Colston, Curator Birds, BMNH (Tring); Dr. Gerloff Mees, Curator 

Birds, RMNH, Leiden; Dr. Bruce Beehler, Bird Dept, Smithsonian 

Institution, Murray Bruce and to my many clients whose kind patronage 

has enabled me to spend additional time in the field and museum.

Address:

'Semioptera', Lot IS, Kerns Road, Kincumber, NSW 2250, Australia.

TAXONOMIC RELATIONSHIPS OF THE 

WHITE-RUMPED KINGFISHER Caridonax fulgidus

By John L. McKean (Received 22 February 1988)

The taxonomic relationships of the White-rumped Kingfisher Caridonax 

fulgidus are not well established. Fry (1980), in his comprehensive 

review of the Alcedinidae, retained the species in Halcyon for 

convenience only, noting that its colour pattern is like the blue and 

white Tanysiptera species and distantly like Actenoides 

bougainvillea. Forshaw and Cooper (1983) likewise retained the 

species in Halcyon. Forshaw (in 1itt. 17 November 1987) suggests that a 

thorough investigation of a possible relationship between it and H. 

coromanda should be undertaken. Bruce, in White and Bruce (1986), 

considered that until more is known of this bird and its presumed 

relationships with Tanysiptera and Actenoides, it was best placed in 

the monotypic genus Caridonax. While I also think that this species is 

best retained in Caridonax, I consider that its affinities tie dose to 

Dacelo. My evidence is based on calls and calling posture as outlined 

below.

During August 1987, I found C. fulgidus common in forest to 1700 metres 

altitude on Flores, Indonesia. "It was particularly active at dusk and 

dawn when its white rump showed to advantage as it flew across forest 

clearings. In this respect it resembles Tanysiptera sylvia and T. 

galeata.

43



Little known Tyto owls of Wallacea

Gardiner, Sjarifin

Mangan, James

SHORT COMMUNICATIONS

SIGHTING OF AN UNIDENTIFIED PIGEON IN IRIAN JAYA

by Sjarifin Gardiner and James Mangan

On 19 July 1937 we were returning from a walk in secondary forest at 

about 1850 m above Jiwika in the Grand Valley of the Balim, in the Snow 

Mountains of Irian Jaya. The sighting took place at about 15.30 hours. 

Visibility was excellent, with a cloudless shy. The sun was 

approximately at right angles to our line of vision. The location was 

just below the brine well, a well known soot where the local people 

obtain salt. SG was carrying 10x40 and JM 10x21 binoculars.

A pigeon or dove was first sighted by SG and then observed by both of 

us, perched on a branch about 10 to 15 m above ground level and about 30 

to 40 m down slope of us. We observed it for about 30 seconds as it sat 

on the branch. Although it was not-in full sunshine, lighting was good 

because the canopy was thin, and there was side lighting from the gap 

in the canopy over the pathway. It then flaw off to the left over the 

path across our line of vision in bright unobscured sunlight, with the 

sun to our backs.

It was a large dove or pigeon, 30 to 40 cm from head to tail. The entire 

head was an even light grey. The rest of the breast, belly and 

undertail coverts were bright yellow, similar to the yellow on the 

Common Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoratis which we had seen 

several times during the afternoon. The head of the bird was small, and 

the breast Quite full. The undertail was dark grey, the tai1 being very 

long in proportion to the body. The bill and feet colour were not 

bright. The back and wings, seen only after the bird took flight, were 

a dark slate with a slightly bluish tinge. As the bird flew past, a 

white flash appeared on tne region of the upper breast-perhaps white on 

the flanks which were covered when the bird sat perched with wings 

folded.

We described the bird to each other as we were observing it on the 

branch, and SG talked a description into a hand-held dictating machine 

immediately afterwards.

We referred to The Birds of New Guinea (Beehler et. al. 1986) which we 

had with us, and immediately discovered that there was nothing

remotely like what we had just seen. JM drew and then coloured a sketch 

based on our joint observations two days later in Jayapura.

The observation was first described by JH in a letter to Dr. Beehler 

dated 24 July, 1987.

62

Me offer this observation in the hope of alerting future fieldworkers 

of an unidentified form in the Balim Valley.

Reference ;

Beehler, B.M., T.K. Pratt and D.A. Simmerman. 1987. Birds of New 

Guinea. Princeton University press. Pnnceton, N.J.

63



Sighting of an unidentified pigeon in Irian Jaya

Pramono, A Hadi

150 Short Communications KUKILA 5 No. 2 
MALEO ON BUTON 
By A. Hadi Pramono 
(received 18 April 1991) 
Ringkasan 
Bukti-buktl menunjukkan bahwa Macnxephalon maleo berblak di Pulau Buton, Sulawesi Tenggara. 
While studying the Buton Macaque Macaco brunnescens on Buton Island, S.E. Sulawesi, 
from April to November 1988,1 stayed at the village of Maligano on the west border of 
Buton Utara Game Reserve. On one occasion I saw eggs of the Maleo Macrocephalon maleo 
on sale in Maligano market. The vendor informed me that he had taken the eggs from a sandy 
area around the headwaters of Lebo river, inside the Reserve, north of the village. I also met 
with people who were accustomed to hunting the eggs. 
Dekker (1990, p.47) notes that Maleo are alleged to occur on Buton but this has not yet been 
proven. However, there does appear to be official knowledge of the presence of the bird on 
Buton, because the 82,000 ha Buton Utara Game Reserve is designed to protect the Lowland 
Aaoa.Anoa depressicomis and the Maleo (Anon. 1983). 
While definitive proof is still awaited, the present observation provides strong 
circumstantial evidence of the presence of Maleo on Buton Island. 
References 
Anonymous. 1983. Mengenal Suaka Atom di Sulawesi Tenggara. Sub-Balai Perlindungan 
dan Pelestarian Alam Sulawesi Tenggara. 
Dekker, R.W.R.J. 1990. Conservation and biology of Megapodes (Megapodiidae, 
Galliformes, Aves). Instituut voor Taxonomische Zoologie, Universiteit van 
Amsterdam. 
Address 
JLCipayung 1/7, Jakarta 12180. 


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