Published June 18, 2020
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A taxonomic and conservation re-appraisal of all the birds on the island of Nias
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Rheindt, Frank E., Gwee, Chyi Yin, Baveja, Pratibha, Ferasyi, Teuku Reza, Nurza, Agus, Rosa, Teuku Shaddiq, Haminuddin (2020): A taxonomic and conservation re-appraisal of all the birds on the island of Nias. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 68: 496-528, DOI: 10.26107/RBZ-2020-0068
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- LSID
- urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3A5DC86A-B620-47CA-852D-B9FA36881604
- LSID
- urn:lsid:plazi.org:pub:AC70FFC7FF940364FFD6886AFFD8FFE0
References
- 93. Greater Sandplover Charadrius leschenaultii: A migrant first mentioned for Nias by Salvadori (1887); not found by us.
- 94. Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus: A migrant first reported for Nias by Hartert (1898); species not found by us.
- 95. Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata: A migrant first reported for Nias by Hartert (1898); not found by us.
- 96. Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica: A migrant first reported for Nias by Ripley (1944); not found by us.
- 97. Common Redshank Tringa totanus: A migrant first recorded on Nias by von Rosenberg (1878); not found by us.
- 98. Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia: A migrant first reported for Nias by Ripley (1944); not found by us.
- 99. Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus: A migrant first found by Dymond (1994); not found by us.
- 100. Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos: A ubiquitous migrant first mentioned for Nias by Salvadori (1887); we found one on Pulau Bawa.
- 101. Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres: A migrant first reported for Nias by Hartert (1898); not found by us.
- 102. Pintail Snipe Gallinago stenura: A migrant first reported for Nias with certainty by Buttikofer (1896); not found by us.
- 103. Rufous-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis: A migrant first reported for Nias by Ripley (1944); not found by us.
- 104. Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea: A migrant first reported for Nias by Ripley (1944); not found by us.
- 105. Beach Thick-knee Esacus magnirostris: First reported for Nias by Hartert (1898); not found by us, but it should survive due to presence of suitable nesting habitat.
- 106. Oriental Pratincole Glareola maldivarum: First recorded on Nias by von Rosenberg (1878); not found by us.
- 107. Great Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii: First recorded on Nias by von Rosenberg (1878); not seen by us, but probably continues to be regular around Nias waters.
- 108. Black-naped Tern Sterna sumatrana: First recorded on Nias by von Rosenberg (1878); not seen by us, but probably continues to be regular around Nias waters.
- 109. Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida: First recorded on Nias by von Rosenberg (1878); not seen by us, but probably continues to be a regular migrant around Nias waters.
- 110. Brown Noddy Anous stolidus: First recorded on Nias by von Rosenberg (1878); not seen by us, but probably continues to be regular around Nias waters.
- 111. Large Green Pigeon Treron capellei: First found by Dymond (1994). We did not find this species and fear that it may well have gone extinct on the island over only two decades. In 2019, only two areas of disturbed secondary forest larger than ~1,000 ha survive in the very north and east of Nias, respectively. Our fieldwork in one of them (Bawolato in the far east) over four calendar days did not provide evidence of this species, but showed that the habitat is more degraded than expected from satellite imagery.
- 112. Little Green Pigeon Treron olax: Von Rosenberg (1878) recorded this species on all the larger islands of the West Sumatran island chain, but there were no specimens or subsequent sightings until Dymond (1994) reconfirmed the species for Nias. We did not find it, and if it survives, it must be extremely localised.
- 113. Jambu Fruit Dove Ptilinopus jambu: First reported for Nias by Hartert (1898). This species has declined and become elusive range-wide, was not found by us on Nias, and may have gone extinct on the island, though long-range sporadic visits may be possible.
- 114. Mountain Imperial Pigeon Ducula badia: First recorded on Nias by von Rosenberg (1878), but without specimens or subsequent sightings until Dymond (1994) reconfirmed the species for Nias. It was not recorded by us. This montane species is an erratic visitor to lowlands and probably only visits Nias irregularly during eruptions.
- 115. Pied Imperial Pigeon Ducula bicolor: First recorded on Nias by von Rosenberg (1878). We found this species relatively sparsely, and only on the Hinako Archipelago, with ~10 on Pulau Asu and one on Pulau Bawa.
- 116. Silvery Woodpigeon Columba argentina: This Critically Endangered pigeon (BirdLife International, 2016) had remained undiscovered on Nias until Svensson & Yong (2016) documented a captive individual in a western Nias village that was claimed by the owner to have been caught in surrounding secondary vegetation. Records in the wild had thus far eluded ornithologists, but during our fieldwork on Nias we encountered this species at two sites: (1) At Onolimbu, we sighted over half a dozen morning flocks of large black-and-white pigeons flying over on three different days, in total amounting to over 50 individuals, with a decidedly greyish rather than yellow cast. Their suspected identity as Silvery Woodpigeons (because of their inland location) was confirmed by one small group of four (perhaps five) individuals perching in an open tree near the main road through Onolimbu behind a small church at around 1000 hours, allowing us to observe them in the scope for ~2-3 min and take photos immediately before the church congregation streamed out at the end of their service and flushed the pigeons. Our photos show the bicoloured bill and red eye with a dark periorbital disc (Fig. 20). (2) On Pulau Asu, we observed two individuals on one morning in a fruiting tree next to our bird processing station in an overgrown coconut grove next to a small woodlot. The birds were initially feeding, but then settled down and perched out in the open at ~60 m distance, allowing for detailed scope views and photos. Our observation lasted from ~0920-1040 hours. The photos show great detail, including the pinkish rather than black legs incorrectly depicted in most books (e.g., Eaton et al., 2016). Our records indicate that Nias's secondary lowland habitats dominated by overgrown rubber plantations appear suitable for this species, and Nias may host the world's healthiest population of this pigeon. The lack of historic records of this species on Nias despite extensive collecting in the early 1900s may indicate that Nias has become more suitable for this supertramp with the extinction and endangerment of original frugivorous doves (see Green Imperial Pigeon, Large Green Pigeon, etc.), although this hypothesis requires solid confirmation (Diamond, 1974). We consider it unlikely that the birds seen on Nias are merely erratic visitors from unknown breeding locations elsewhere, mainly because other suitable islands (e.g., Babi, Bangkaru, Siberut, etc.) have by now been well surveyed and do not seem to harbour the potential for populations of hundreds of birds that can visit Nias seasonally.
- 117. Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica: First mentioned for Nias by Salvadori (1887). We saw one flying by and caught, DNA-sampled, and released one more at Onolimbu. We also heard this species near Gunung Sitoli, at Bawolato, and on Pulau Bawa.
- 118. Nicobar Pigeon Caloenas nicobarica: First recorded on Nias by von Rosenberg (1878); not recorded by us. This species is now widely hunted out from its original range and its continued existence on Nias must be in doubt.
- 119. Indian Cuckoo Cuculus micropterus: Apparently recorded on Nias since before 1970 (Holmes, 1994).
- 120. Drongo Cuckoo Surniculus lugubris: First reported for Nias by Buttikofer (1896). Not found by us, despite listening for its signature vocalisations; perhaps seasonally silent or non-breeding migratory, as suggested by Ripley (1944).
- 121. Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus: First mentioned for Nias by Salvadori (1887). We found this species on the Hinako Archipelago multiple times, with ~5 seen on Pulau Asu, one seen on Pulau Bawa, and more heard on both islands. Hinako's birds are most likely attributable to the local subspecies malayanus instead of migrants from the north, but we lack evidence.
- 122. Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis: First recorded on Nias by von Rosenberg (1878). We saw two adults near Bawolato, and frequently heard the species here and elsewhere. It appears to be widespread.
- 123. Oriental Bay Owl Phodilus badius: First recorded on Nias by Buttikofer (1896). We tracked down, spot-lit, observed, sound-recorded, and photographed one vocal bird at Onolimbu in overgrown rubber plantations adjacent to a secondary woodland gully, confirming its continued presence on Nias.
- 124. Malaysian Eared Nightjar Lyncornis temminckii: First reported for Nias by Hartert (1898). We saw a total of ~4 in high flight vocalising at dawn around Bawolato.
- 125. Edible-nest Swiftlet Aerodramus fuciphagus: For early taxonomic disagreements about the attribution of Nias populations to either Edible-nest or Mossy-nest (Ae. salangana) = Uniform Swiftlets Ae. vanikorensis, refer to the Uniform Swiftlet account (see above). The current occurrence of Edible-nest Swiftlet on Nias is confirmed by the presence of a number of house farms in coastal settlements in which enclosures below house roofs are re-modelled to serve as breeding localities for Edible-nest Swiftlets for commercial nest harvesting. We visited one such house farm in a coastal village slightly south of the island's airport and were allowed to sample a number of shed feathers. We do not attribute these populations to the geographically most adjacent subspecies vestitus as much remains to be learned about the subspecific affinity of house-farm swiftlets (Cranbrook et al., 2013).
- 126. Black-nest Swiftlet Aerodramus maximus lowi: First reported for Nias by Ripley (1944). It should have remained a widespread breeder on Nias because house roofs may serve as nesting sites. For our sightings, see Uniform Swiftlet account above.
- 127 Whiskered Treeswift Hemiprocne comata: First reported for Nias by Buttikofer (1896) on the basis of a single male. Subsequent records have been sparse. We did not record this species and it may have declined or become extinct.
- 128. Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis bengalensis: This winter migrant was first recorded on Nias by Buttikofer (1896). We may have glimpsed one at a mangrove bay on Pulau Bawa, but the brief views of a red ear patch and the poor light conditions did not allow us to conclusively rule out a juvenile Blue-eared Kingfisher Alcedo meninting. At any rate, this migrant is expected to continue to frequent the island.
- 129. Ruddy Kingfisher Halcyon coromanda minor: First recorded on Nias by von Rosenberg (1878). Records on Nias have been identified as the Sundaic breeding subspecies (minor) (Ripley, 1944). We did not detect this shy species, likely overlooking it.
- 130. Blue-throated Bee-eater Merops viridis: First recorded on Nias by von Rosenberg (1878). Unidentified Merops bee-eaters during our fieldwork in the distance at Bawolato probably referred to this species.
- 131. Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus: Buttikofer (1896) reported on two adult males from Gunung Sitoli, but the species does not seem to have been listed subsequently for Nias. We assume it may be an occasional migrant.
- 132. Common Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis orientalis: First recorded on Nias by von Rosenberg (1878). Ripley (1944) identified a male specimen from Nias as a migrant E. o. deignani (which is nowadays usually synonymised with nominate orientalis). We observed one to two on Pulau Asu, noting that they were very purple-throated, but were unable to identify them to subspecies level.
- 133. Asian Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris: First recorded on Nias by von Rosenberg (1878). We did not record this species, but its continued existence was reported to us by local informants at least from the surroundings of Bawolato.
- 134. Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker Picoides moluccensis: Ripley (1944) listed Dryobates hardwickii for Nias, an antiquated name that refers to the brown-headed species group of pygmy woodpeckers regionally represented by the Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker. The sole male inspected by Ripley (1944) had a considerably larger bill size than other populations, but Ripley (1944) refrained from conclusions based on low sample size. We are not aware of subsequent records, and wonder whether this specimen could have had a mislabelled locality. Nevertheless, we are reluctant to recommend it for removal from the Nias list at this point.
- 135. Green Broadbill Calyptomena viridis: First mentioned for Nias by Salvadori (1887), but probably no longer found in the 20th century (Ripley, 1944). We did not record this species, despite being attuned to its vocalisation. Given the degraded state of Nias's remnant lowland forest, the bird may have become seriously endangered or extinct on the island.
- 136. Hooded Pitta Pitta sordida cucullata: First reported for Nias by Buttikofer (1896). We failed to record this migrant.
- 137. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica: Recorded on Nias at least since Ripley (1944). We only saw ~3 singletons of this migrant at Bawolato.
- 138. Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus: First reported for Nias by Buttikofer (1896); we found only one at Bawolato.
- 139. Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis tschutschensis: Ripley (1944) listed the superciliaried subspecies simillima (now widely synonymised with the nominate) as occurring on Nias as a migrant. We did not find it.
- 140. Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea: First reported for Nias by Buttikofer (1896). We did not find this migrant.
- 141. Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus: First recorded on Nias by von Rosenberg (1878). We strangely did not find this species, although it should occur due to the availability of suitable agriculatural habitat.
- 142. Fiery Minivet Pericrocotus igneus: Only mentioned for Nias by Buttikofer (1896). We did not find this species, which may have declined for a lack of tall emergent trees in Nias's remnant lowland forest patches. Obviously, it does not seem to have adapted to the rubber plantations on Nias.
- 143. B l a c k - w i n g e d F l y c a t c h e r - S h r i k e H e m i p u s hirundinaceus: Only recorded on Nias by von Rosenberg (1878). We did not find this species, which may have declined or become extinct on Nias for a lack of tall emergent trees in the island's remnant lowland forest patches. Obviously, it does not seem to have adapted to the rubber plantations on Nias.
- 144. Straw-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus zeylanicus: First recorded on Nias by von Rosenberg (1878), but extremely likely to be extirpated on the island now, as it has become locally and regionally extinct over wide swathes of Indonesia because of rampant trapping (Eaton et al., 2015). We did not find this species either in the wild, or in the bird shops of Gunung Sitoli.
- 145. Cream-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus simplex simplex: First mentioned for Nias by Salvadori (1887). We found this species both in degraded remnant forest and, perhaps surprisingly, in rubber plantations, seeing two near Gunung Sitoli; one around Bawolato; and nine near Onolimbu, some of which were caught and processed. All Cream-vented Bulbuls sighted had white eyes and differed distinctly from Olive-winged Bulbuls by their lack of pale cheek streaking.
- 146. Asian Red-eyed Bulbul Pycnonotus brunneus brunneus: To the best of our knowledge, first mentioned for Nias with certainty by Ripley (1944). We found this species both in degraded remnant forest and, perhaps surprisingly, in rubber plantations, seeing two near Gunung Sitoli; four around Bawolato; five in the hills of Nias Selatan; and ~9 near Onolimbu, some of which were caught and processed.
- 147. Asian Fairy Bluebird Irena puella crinigera: First mentioned for Nias by Salvadori (1887). We did not record this species during our fieldwork. Its absence was consistent with the scarcity or absence of other larger frugivores of the high canopy, and may be a reflection of the extremely degraded state of remnant lowland forest patches on Nias.
- 148. Tiger Shrike Lanius tigrinus: This migrant was first reported for Nias by Buttikofer (1896). We scoped one fairly immature-looking bird at Onolimbu and observed it over ~15 min. The immature plumage state was surprising to us, given that a mid-March observation date would suggest that most birds should be at least in their second calendar-year breeding plumage, although little is known about the appearance of second calendaryear plumages in this species.
- 149. Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus: First found on Nias by Dymond (1994). We had a brief sighting of an individual in poor light near Gunung Sitoli that may have been a grey-crowned lucionensis, but because of the substandard quality of the sighting, we do not firmly claim this taxon here.
- 150. Malayan Forktail Enicurus frontalis: This species was only mentioned for Nias by Salvadori (1887). It is often known as the White-crowned Forktail E. leschenaulti, but we follow Moyle et al.'s (2005) genetic results arguing for a division between the lowland Sundaic populations and those on Java, montane Borneo, and elsewhere. We did not detect this species on Nias, and the general state of degradation especially along streams may suggest that it could have declined or become extinct on the island by now.
- 151. Stejneger's Stonechat Saxicola stejnegeri: This migrant species, formerly included within a larger Old World wastebasket species, Common Stonechat S. torquatus, was recorded on Nias only once as a vagrant by Dymond (1993).
- 152. Siberian Thrush Zoothera sibirica: This migrant was first reported on Nias by Buttikofer (1896); we did not find it, but it likely persists as a migrant.
- 153. Oriental Reed Warbler Acrocephalus orientalis: This migrant species was recorded on Nias for the first time by Dymond (1994); we did not detect it.
- 154. Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis: To the best of our knowledge, this species may have been first mentioned for Nias by Ripley (1944). We saw one and heard more in paddy lowlands of Bawolato.
- 155. Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis: This migrant was first reported for Nias by Buttikofer (1896). We likely saw 1+1 at Bawolato, but they were silent and skittish, not affording good views, which is why we do not claim their identification as certain. The species likely continues to visit Nias as a migrant.
- 156. Amur Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone incei: Buttikofer (1896) delivered a convincing description of a Nias specimen of this species, indicating that it occasionally reaches Nias as a migrant. It has been overlooked by most subsequent accounts of Nias birds; we did not detect it.
- 157. Mangrove Whistler Pachycephala cinerea: First mentioned for Nias by Salvadori (1887). On the main island of Nias, one briefly came in to a fruiting tree at Onolimbu, where another one was caught and processed, but its distinctive vocalisation was not heard once. However, it was one of the most noticeable forest denizens by sound on the Hinako Archipelago, where ~8 were seen on Pulau Asu, several of which were caught and processed; and ~4 were seen on Pulau Bawa, where one was caught and processed.
- 158. Plain Sunbird Anthreptes simplex: First mentioned for Nias by Salvadori (1887), although Ripley (1944) claimed earlier records by von Rosenberg (1878). Dymond (1994) argued that these records required verification, thereby removing the species from Nias's list. However, Ripley (1944) had referenced specimens by four independent collectors. We saw the species on several occasions, although it was always tough to view for long in the high canopy. After multiple probable sightings, 1+2 were conclusively identified in disturbed woodland at Bawolato, seen by two observers with previous experience of the species (first and second authors), with clear views of its unique bill morphology and its brighter olive upperparts and greyer underparts. These sightings constitute further confirmation of this species's occurrence on Nias.
- 159. Copper-throated Sunbird Leptocoma calcostetha: This species was first mentioned for Nias by Hartert (1898). We only recorded one, a male in mangroves on Pulau Bawa.
- 160. Ornate Sunbird (= Olive-backed Sunbird) Cinnyris ornatus: This form was previously merged under the species Olive-backed Sunbird C. jugularis, but we follow the genetic data in Lohman et al. (2010) in separating a Sundaic group of subspecies from populations in the Philippines, Wallacea, and Papua as C. ornatus. The species was first detected on Nias by Dymond (1994). It is one of the most widespread species of disturbed habitat on Sumatra and other bigger Sundaic landmasses, so its late discovery on Nias is puzzling and may have followed deforestation. In our fieldwork spanning >1 week, we did not record this bird, and assume that it must be an irregular or localised breeder or visitor to the island, perhaps because of competitive exclusion by other sunbirds.
- 161. Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata: First mentioned for Nias by Salvadori (1887). We found this species in open cultivated areas around Bawolato, where we saw at least 10 individuals.
- 162. White-headed Munia Lonchura maja: First recorded on Nias by von Rosenberg (1878). We found this species in open cultivated areas, with sightings of at least 100 near Gunung Sitoli; at least 30 around Bawolato; and two near Onolimbu.
- 163. Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus: Recorded on Nias for the first time by Dymond (1994) at a time when it must have been freshly introduced or arrived naturally. Now, the species is widespread in the countryside. We saw ~40 around Bawolato; ~20 near Gunung Sitoli; ~20 near Onolimbu and surroundings; and even ~10 on Pulau Asu.
- 164. Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus: First mentioned for Nias by Salvadori (1887), but not found by us in the field or in cages. Habitat degradation should have favoured its expansion across the island.
- 165. Slender-billed Crow Corvus enca compilator: First mentioned for Nias by Salvadori (1887), although von Rosenberg (1878) probably referred to this species by mention of "Corvus validus". We did not record this species, which is a forest specialist on Sumatra and may therefore have declined on Nias by now.