SYSTEMATIC LIST OF BIRD SPECIES OBSERVED IN SULAWESI

                                      June 7 - 21, 2014

                                                 © 2014 Callyn Yorke

 

                                                    Map showing birding sites I visited in Northern Sulawesi

                                                

                        1 = Bunaken Island (BI); 2 = Gunung Mabawu (GM); 3 = Tangkoko National Park (TNP);  4 = Gunung Ambang (GA); 5 = Toraut (TOR) and Tombon (TOM), Dumoga-Bone National Park.

                                                                         (see previous page for site descriptions and other details)

 

SYSTEMATIC BIRD LIST :Taxonomic order and nomenclature follows Clements 6th edition (updated 2013): Avibase - Bird Checklist of the World - Sulawesi, by Dennis Lepage, 2014). Regional field guide used for identification and range: Coates, Brian J. and K. David Bishop. 1997. A Guide to the Birds of Wallacea. Dove Publications, Queensland, Australia. 535 pp. Sulawesi endemic species are capitalized. Estimated numbers of individuals observed are indicated following the scientific name.

 

GALLIFORMES

MALEO (Macrocephalon maleo)   1 (adult); 1 (fledgling raised in captivity); 1 24-hr. egg retrieved and reburied in an enclosure for protection; an adult Maleo was seen briefly running on the ground in the forest; another individual was seen by a researcher in the forested area. at least three birds were present in the forest surrounding the nesting grounds during our visit, TOM.

Orange-footed Scrubfowl (Megapodius reinwardt)  1   running away from us through the forest, TNP.

Blue-breasted Quail (Coturnix chinesis)  1 edge of agr. area. GA; 1 running through dense undergrowth in a forest clearing, TOM.

 

PELICANIFORMES

Great Egret (Ardea alba)  1  in rice paddy near Todano, Sinsingon, GA.

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)  20 +  paddy fields and roadside ditches near Todano, Sinsingon, GA.

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) 120  ubiquitous in wet areas.

Javan Pond Heron (Ardeola speciosa) 15  paddy fields near Todano, GA.

Striated Heron (Butorides striatus) 1  edge of mangrove, TNP.

 

ACCIPITRIFORMES

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)  1 adult. circling above the shore near mangrove estuary, TNP.

Black Eagle (Ictinaetus malayensis)  1 soaring high above the forest, GA.

Eastern Marsh Harrier (Circus spilonotus)  flying low over a flooded field near Todano, GA.

Black Kite (Milvus migrans)  1 flying over open agricultural fields, GA;  2  perched in tree at dusk, TOR.

Brahminy Kite (Heliastur indus)  1 flying over shore and mangrove, TNP.

White-bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)  4   flying over shore and beach scrub; a pair in a tree on offshore islet, TNP.

 

GRUIFORMES

Barred Rail (Gallirallus torquatus)  5 common on roadways and trails at GM and GA.

BLUE-FACED RAIL (Gymnocrex rosenbergii)  1  observed at close range for several minutes foraging on ground in the garden, TOR.

 

COLUMBIFORMES

Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)  ubiquitous in towns.

Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis)  ubiquitous in towns and villages.

Slender-billed Cuckoo-Dove (Macropygia amboinensis)  8 feeding on medium-sized yellow fruits of emergent next to the Highland Resort, GM;  3 in forest canopy, GA.

Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica)  2 BI; 1 TNP.

Gray-cheeked Pigeon (Treron griseicauda) 5 perched together in canopy of tall tree near the main village, BI.

Black-naped Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus melanospilus)  3 foraging in the canopy of a large fruiting tree, GA.

WHITE-BELLIED IMPERIAL PIGEON (Ducula forsteni)  2   together in the canopy of a large emergent tree, GA.

Green Imperial Pigeon (Ducula aenea)  4  together in canopy of emergent tree, TNP.

Pied Imperial Pigeon (Ducula bicolor)  3 flying over mangrove, BI;  25   a cohesive flock in trees and flying around small offshore island in the late afternoon, TNP.

 

CUCULIFORMES

Plaintive Cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus) 5  heard calling loudly and repeatedly in forested areas, GM, GA, TNP.

YELLOW-BILLED MALKOA (Phaenicophaeus calyorhynchus)  2 GM (photo); 1 TNP;  2 GA.

BAY COUCAL (Centropus celebensis) 1 flying between bamboo and streamside thickets; secretive, Batu Putih, TNP.

Lesser Coucal (Centropus bengalensis)  1 in shrubs at the edge of an agricultural field, GM;  1 calls, weedy area around Batu Putih village, TNP.

 

STRIGIFORMES

Sulawesi Scops Owl (Otus manadensis)  1 in a daytime roost of giant bamboo on the grounds of a new Batu Putih guest house, TNP.

CINNABAR BOOBOK (Ninox ios)  1  calls only (GM), lower montane forest edge, Sinsingon, GA.

SPECKLED BOOBOK (Ninox punctulata)  1  in daytime roost in rafters inside an abandoned building adjacent to the kitchen, TOR (photo).

 

CAPRIMULGIFORMES

Great-eared Nightjar (Lyncornis macrotis)  calling repeatedly from a clump of giant bamboo next to the dining area, BI; calls, Batu Putih, TNP.

 

APODIFORMES

Glossy Swiftlet (Collocalia esculenta)  ubiquitous except for BI, where replaced by Halmahera Swiftlet; usually flying low over open areas.

Halmahera Swiftlet (Aerodramus infuscatus)  8:  visible characteristics (using photos): blackish-brown above with distinctly lighter (gray, not white) rump.  In pairs and loose flocks, flying  fast, back and forth above second growth and tree-tops and tall shrubs, never less than 10 feet above the ground. Seen daily above around the resort, BI.

Uniform Swiftlet (Aerodromus vanikorensis )  ubiquitous, except BI; usually in loose flocks of 3-5 individuals, flying high above the forest and clearings; lower after rains.

Swift (Apus sp. c.f. pacificus/nipalensis) 2  a relatively large species with a light rump; flying very high above towns and villages in the highlands, GM.

Asian Palm Swift (Cypsiurus balasiensis) 2  flying  20-100 ft. above ground, back and forth over bridge and river, TOR.

Gray-rumped Treeswift (Hemiprocne longipennis) ubiquitous at the edge of forested areas.

 

CORACIIFORMES

Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)  1  flying upstream, Batu Putih, TNP.

Ruddy Kingfisher (Halcyon coromanda)  1  well-concealed among streamside shrubs, Batu Putih, TNP.

Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris)  4  vocal, ubiquitous; edge of mangrove and second-growth, BI.

Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus)  2  perched in tall trees in open areas, BI; TNP.

GREEN-BACKED KINGFISHER (Actenoides monachus)  1  lower strata of forest, TNP;  1 TOM.

PURPLE-WINGED ROLLER (Coracias temminckii)  1  active in middle level of forest along trail, TNP.

KNOBBED HORNBILL (Aceros cassidix)  2  m,f; female, difficult to see, masoned into nest cavity about 30 ft. above the ground in a mature fig tree in primary rainforest; male foraging in subcanopy nearby, TNP.

 

PICIFORMES

SULAWESI WOODPECKER (Dedrocopus temminckii)  2  m,f  pair working up trunks of separate hardwood trees at the edge of the forest, GM;  size,morphology and behavior suggested a closer affinity with Picoides than Dedrocopus.

ASHY WOODPECKER (Mulleripicus fulvus) 1 f;  a large, powerfully-built woodpecker;  climbing slowly and silently up the trunk of small tree at the edge of a forest clearing, TOM (photo).

 

PSITTACIFORMES

GOLDEN MANTLED RAQUET-TAIL (Prioniturus platurus)  unclear views; calls (CM)  flying over the canopy of a primary rainforest,TNP.

Azure-rumped Parrot (Tanygnathus sumatranus)  2-5; vocal and active at dusk in trees outside dining area, TOR.

SULAWESI HANGING PARROT (Loriculus stigmatus)  2  climbing in subcanopy of fruiting tree at the edge of the forest, GM (photo).

 

PASSERIFORMES

Red-bellied Pitta (Pitta erythrogaster)  1 immature male; foraging in leaf litter beneath trees, TOM (photo).

SULAWESI MYZOMELA (Myzomela chloroptera) 1 m  foraging in middle to upper levels of roadside trees, GA.

Golden-bellied Gerygone (Gerygone sulphurea)  5   foraging in Kmpg. Kalinaung mangrove at the edge of a slough, TNP.

White-breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorhynchus)  2  sallying from an exposed perch, GA.

CERULEAN CUCKOO-SHRIKE (Coracina temminckii)   2     foraging busily, together canopy of fruiting tree, GA.

WHITE-RUMPED CUCKOO-SHRIKE (Coracina leucopygia)  2  sallying from subcanopy of tall trees at the edge of a clearing, BI.

SULAWESI CICADABIRD (Edolisoma moria) 4  together in subcanopy and middle layer of forest; sallying from exposed perch, GA.

Black-naped Oriole (Oriolus chinensis) ubiquitous around villages;  montane forest edge and  wooded areas with second-growth.

Hair-crested Drongo (Dicrurus hottentotus) 2  wooded areas, BI; 1 GA.

SULAWESI DRONGO (Dicrurus montanus) 1  subcanopy of primary rainforest, TNP.

Pale-blue Monarch (Hypothymis puella)  1 sallying from the middle-level of a wooded area, TOM.

Slender-billed Crow (Corvus enca)  5  vocal, active in mangrove, BI; 2 TNP;   2 GA.

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 2 flying low over clearing near shore, TNP; nesting under eaves of isolated building in agr. field, GM.

Pacific Swallow (Hirundo tahitica)  4  adults with young in nest underneath a bungalow; flying low over shore, BI; 2 flying low in clearings,TNP.

Citrine Canary-Flycatcher (Culicicapa helianthea)  1  active in subcanopy of mid-elevation forest, GM.

Sooty-headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus aurigaster)  ubiquitous in village gardens and agricultural areas, GM.

Mountain Tailorbird (Phyllergates cucullatus)  1 active in lower levels of roadside forest, GM.

Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis) 1   shrubby second-growth and tall grass on roadside, GM.

Mountain White-eye (Zosterops montanus)  3  active in subcanopy of high elevation forest, GM.

SULAWESI WHITE- EYE (Zosterops consobrinorum) 1  active at upper middle level of dense, low elevation forest, GM.

SULAWESI BABBLER (Pellorneum celebense)  1  vocal and active in lower level of dense, low-elevation forest, GM.

RUSTY-BACKED THRUSH (Geocichla erythronota)  1 vocal and active in streamside vegetation, Batu Putih, TNP.

Asian Glossy Starling (Aplonis panayensis)  8  in canopy of tallest trees; vocal flock staying together, BI

FIERY-BROWED MYNA (Enodes erythrophris) 3  together, feeding on fruits of tall forest tree, GA. .

FINCH-BILLED MYNA (Scissirostrum dubium)  20   vocal and active in late-afternoon in tall, dead tree with cavities, TNP.

YELLOW-SIDED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum aureolimbatum) 2  active in subcanopy of high elevation forest, GM (photo).

Olive-backed Sunbird (Cynniris jugularis) 10 m,f; vocal, active in gardens and second-growth, BI;  2  in garden, Highland Resort, GM.

Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga cervinus)  1 male  active in montane forest and grassy area at high elevation, GM.

Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) ubiquitous in villages and towns.

Black-faced Munia (Lonchura molucca)  4  foraging together in grassy area and garden, BI.

Java Sparrow (Lonchura oryzivora)  2  garden and lawn, BI.