Australian Field Ornithology 2017, 34, 82–86 http://dx.doi.org/10.20938/afo34082086

Observations and first photographs of the Thrush Zoothera turipavae and Thrush Z. margaretae in the

Thierry Quelennec and Marianne Quelennec

9 rue d’Alsace, 29290 Saint-Renan, France. Email: [email protected]

Abstract. We describe observations and provide ecological notes on two poorly known endemic thrush species from the Solomon Islands, the Guadalcanal Thrush Zoothera turipavae and Makira Thrush Z. margaretae. We also present the first published photographs for these species and discuss the differences in coloration observed in the field in July 2016 compared with published illustrations.

Introduction settlement. There was no trail in the forest so guides who accompanied us had to create one. The Solomon Islands constitute an independent country of Collar (2005) described the altitudinal range of the 994 islands, the largest being Guadalcanal, Makira, Isabel, Guadalcanal Thrush as 1450–1500 m above sea-level Choiseul and . They are located in the western (asl). Dutson (2011) increased this to 1400–1500 m, south Pacific, east of Papua New Guinea and north-east although Lagerqvist (2013) found the species at 1575 m. of , and contain a range of endemic Melanesian At these altitudes (1400–1575 m asl), the primary forest is taxa (Mayr & Diamond 2001; Hadden 2004; Dutson on steep or very steep slopes, the trees are not tall (canopy 2011). In July 2016, we travelled to the Solomon Islands, ~15 m above the ground) and undergrowth is quite dense, primarily to observe the Guadalcanal Thrush Zoothera and as the Thrush lives mainly near or on the ground it turipavae and Makira Thrush Z. margaretae. These were can be difficult to see. We searched on 9–11 July 2016 previously treated as two subspecies of the San Cristobal at the location where Lagerqvist (2013) had located the Thrush Turdus margaretae (e.g. Ripley 1964; Mayr & Guadalcanal Thrush (‘campsite’: 9°37′59′′S, 159°58′42′′E) Diamond 2001), but Clement et al. (2000), Collar (2005), and found a pair there. We also found another territory Dutson (2011) and Clements et al. (2016) treated them 200 m further and 20 m higher (‘upper territory’: 9°37′44′′S, as two species. The Guadalcanal Thrush is endemic to 159°58′55′′E) on 10 July. The species thus occurs at up to Guadalcanal and the Makira Thrush to Makira. 1600 m asl. We did not have time to go higher on Mount The ecology of both species is poorly known, and we are Mbutohaina (which rises to 2335 m) to determine if it occurs not aware of any published photographs. Here we present at higher altitudes. Our guides were based at 1100 m asl new ecological information and photographs. and, while climbing near our basecamp at 1570 m asl, they twice saw a Guadalcanal Thrush. Given the lack of records at lower altitudes (by many observers walking through, Guadalcanal Thrush albeit with very limited focussed searching) and at higher altitudes (by the American Museum of Natural History This species is little known for several reasons: its Expedition), the prime habitat for the species appears to geographical range is remote and extremely restricted, be the transition between montane and mossy forest. We its population is very small, and it is a retiring terrestrial found one pair in the upper montane forest and a territory bird of dense wet forest. Collar (2005) and Dutson (2011) in the mossy forest, these two territories being 200 m apart. cited only three records, in 1953, 1994 and 1997. In 2010, Thus the density of Guadalcanal Thrushes could be quite Lagerqvist (2013) saw the Guadalcanal Thrush on Mount high in good habitat, although the density is unknown in the Mbutohaina. In 2015, another ornithological expedition large areas of patchier forest on very steep slopes. in Chupukama (the same mountain range), led by Chris Filardi of the American Museum of Natural History, did Guadalcanal Thrushes were always seen on the ground not see it on Mount Mbutohaina but had a brief sighting or in the lower part of bushes and were shy, although elsewhere on Guadalcanal (C. Filardi pers. comm.). In literature reports indicate that they are not very shy 2016, we found two occupied territories and obtained what (Clement et al. 2000). They moved on the ground, slowly we believe to be the first photographs of this species. running like a quiet mouse or like a Lanceolated Warbler Locustella lanceolata, upon and under leaves and dead Habitat branches. They did not fly away if an observer was sitting quite close on the ground, but disappeared quickly. Guadalcanal is 150 km long and 45 km wide and, as tribes of the inland forest are decreasing, the local people live Responses to recorded song mainly on the coast, not far from the capital . The hilly centre of the island is covered by primary forest and To obtain photographs, we used tape-recorded song of has no roads. To enter this area, one has to follow logging the Guadalcanal Thrush sourced from the internet. We tracks and trek for ≥3 days (it took us 5 days) to reach played this all morning on 10 July at different locations but suitable habitat for this species, which is far from all human there was no response. That evening (between 1540 h Solomon Islands thrushes: Guadalcanal Thrush and Makira Thrush 83

Figure 1. Guadalcanal Thrush, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 11 July 2016. The rufous-brown on the wings and rump is obvious only in sunlight. Photo: Thierry Quelennec

Figure 2. Guadalcanal Thrush in its territory in the mossy forest, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 11 July 2016. Photo: Thierry Quelennec and nightfall), however, when the tape was played at the seen flying nervously in the understorey, always perching campsite territory, a Guadalcanal Thrush started singing far away. On our last morning (11 July), we failed to see immediately. It continued to sing, 4 m above the ground, any Thrushes in the campsite territory, so at 0930 h we from a small undergrowth tree, for >30 minutes after the again played the tape in the upper territory (where we recording was stopped. We tried to locate it but it flew away had earlier heard a Thrush singing) for c. 15–20 minutes before we could see it. We played the song more and the without stopping the tape. Finally, a Thrush came quietly bird became nervous. One ascended a slope by walking in, probably having walked on the ground. It stopped on and jumping over the ground but when it saw one of us at a small dead trunk covered with moss, looking toward a distance it flew away. Then one or two Thrushes were the tape without appearing nervous (Figure 1) and then 84 Australian Field Ornithology T. Quelennec & M. Quelennec

disappeared. After 10 minutes, the tape was played again, sunlight the back appears grey-brown, as does the head, and the bird (probably the same individual) appeared again and thus contrasts with the warmer rufous-brown wings (Figure 2). During our stay on the mountain, we played and rump. These grey and rufous-brown tones are visible the tape four times and observed four types of reaction: on the type specimen but are much less contrasting than no response, a strong song, nervous flights, and walking in our photograph (G. Dutson in litt. 2017). Although not quietly toward the recorder. illustrated in the drawings, Clement et al. (2000) described this in their text. The faint barring on the wings is not Feeding noticeable in our photographs. One Guadalcanal Thrush was observed walking on the More observations and photographs of more birds are ground and foraging among leaf-litter, in and under the required in order to provide a definitive description. branches of a fallen dead tree, similar to behaviour noted by other observers (Clement et al. 2000). We saw some Makira Thrush Island Thrushes Turdus poliocephalus sladeni eating tree fruits, but no Guadalcanal Thrushes doing so. Thus, Habitat although some ground thrushes sometimes use the canopy of trees, the Guadalcanal Thrush does not appear to do so. The bush trek to reach Makira Thrush habitat was far easier than that to see the Guadalcanal Thrush. On the Breeding first day (16 July 2016), we reached the village of Naara, 60 m asl (10°32′35′′S, 161°55′54′′E), and on the second Like the majority of bird species in evergreen forests, day, the ridge (10°33′38′′S, 161°54′23′′E, 757 m asl for the tropical Zoothera thrushes breed during the wet season. lookout on the ridge above Baorani and Hauta villages; In Guadalcanal, the wet season is from December to the 10°33′38′′S, 161°54′43′′E, 525 m asl for Baorani village) end of April, when access to the mountain is most difficult near Baorani village at ~900 m asl, although the trek could because of fast-flowing rivers. As a result, nothing is known have been done in a day. about breeding of the Guadalcanal Thrush. We found that, in July, Guadalcanal Thrushes sang at first light (0620 h), Dutson (2011) stated that this species occurs between but it is not known if this occurs every day or is linked to 200 and 700 m asl, and Collar (2005) recorded it at breeding. 400–700 m asl (and once at 200 m asl). Our guide, Joseph from Naara, insisted we look around Naara village on 16 July, and we found a Makira Thrush 100 m from the General appearance village and a second Thrush occupied a territory 300 m Before going to Guadalcanal, we had seen three drawings further on (Joseph pers. comm.). The limited survey (by (all very similar) of the species: in Clement et al. (2000), one person over 3 days) by Danielsen et al. (2010) failed to Collar (2005) and Dutson (2011). In the field, we noticed find the species at Naara. On our last day, as we returned some differences. The text descriptions in these books to the airport, Joseph showed us a patch of forest where sometimes differ from the drawings and are closer to reality. the species was present at an altitude of only 17 m asl. Although our experience of this little-known rare species Otherwise, we found this species around the ridge mostly is limited, our impressions are worth recording. We think above 800 m asl (Figure 3, taken at 750 m asl), but it has we photographed an adult (Figures 1–2) as we noticed no also been observed above Maraone village at ~1000 m asl plumage pattern typical of Zoothera juveniles. The jizz is (Joseph pers. comm.). that of a small thrush with a very round head, and is very The Makira Thrush is fairly common at high altitude, different from more common Zoothera species, which are where we saw it and heard its call regularly. It inhabits usually far stouter. The Guadalcanal Thrush reminds us of primary forest of tall trees. Like the Guadalcanal Thrush, the Buru Thrush Geokichla dumasi (although this is slightly it lives on the ground and among the lower branches of smaller), and looks more like a big robin than a thrush. bushes in the undergrowth. Some observers have flushed It is difficult to judge natural colours from photographs Makira Thrushes from trails in the early morning (Clement but, although the published drawings mentioned above et al. 2000), a common behaviour in Zoothera thrushes, clearly show a dark-brown bird, the Guadalcanal Thrushes but we did not. Clement et al. (2000) reported Makira seen by us in the field were deep grey-brown rather than Thrushes in overgrown gardens, and Joseph and his chocolate-brown, especially on the underparts. All the daughter reported that these birds sometimes leave the drawings show a conspicuously scaly breast and belly, or forest and forage in their garden, which is dense in some this pattern being mainly restricted to the upper belly. In the parts and is adjacent to the forest (Joseph pers. comm.). field, we noted that the lower belly shows few brown marks, and the breast has very few white marks (and these are Responses to recorded song and other behaviour not clearly scaly but are more like streaks in shape). The If a Makira Thrush was close, it responded quickly to pattern on the flanks is very different from the drawings: it is recorded song (sourced from the internet). The tape was not scaly but rather has short thin white streaks. The breast played in three places and each time Makira Thrushes and belly are shown as scaly brown with fawn centres to sang and showed nervousness, in contrast with the the feathers in the three drawings, or the feathers are variable response of the Guadalcanal Thrush. grey-brown with nearly white centres. The Makira Thrush is sometimes called the White-bellied Thrush, but the white On the afternoon of 16 July and morning of 17 July, is clearly more extensive in the Guadalcanal Thrush. The recorded Makira Thrush songs were played from a hide colour of the wings of the Guadalcanal Thrush is different at Naara. A Makira Thrush immediately started singing in from that on the back. All the drawings show uniform the dense undergrowth but could be glimpsed only briefly. upperparts in this species but we noted that when seen in When singing, it seemed to be 4–5 m above the ground Solomon Islands thrushes: Guadalcanal Thrush and Makira Thrush 85

Figure 3. Makira Thrush, Makira, Solomon Islands, 19 July 2016. This bird is in an open area during the day—a very rare view. Photo: Thierry Quelennec but Joseph suggested that it was actually lower than 1 m General appearance above the ground. The long pale, clear-pink legs are obvious, and the Makira On 18 July, we cut undergrowth from an area of ~150 m² Thrush stands in quite an upright posture (see Figure 3). behind the ridge (750 m asl), in the hope of seeing a Makira The beak is strong and black. The head is brown, with small Thrush in the open, but the bird remained invisible except white spots on the ear-coverts and a black malar stripe. for 2–3 seconds. One Thrush sang and moved within The upperparts are brown with two wing-bars of small bushes in the vicinity but did not leave the vegetation. A white spots across the black greater and median coverts. Thrush once came nervously to the centre of the space but The breast and belly are covered with very scaly marks, remained shy and hidden by a tree-trunk and a very small the feathers being white in the centre and edged with bush and quickly returned to cover. black. The bird’s appearance is quite unlike that depicted To see a Makira Thrush well and photograph it, on in the drawings in Collar (2005) and Clement et al. (2000), 18 July we cleared a space (3 m × 30 m) in the vegetation, which show a bird with brown scaly underparts and brown 100 m from the previous location (not at the centre of that (not black) greater and median coverts, and the beak is not Thrush’s territory). On the morning of 19 July, TQ hid at the strong enough. The illustration in Dutson (2011) is closer to end of the cutting and played the tape and a Thrush flew reality. However, the legs are too short in illustrations in all nervously from the left side (its territory side) to drop into of these publications. the undergrowth on the right. The tape was switched off and the bird walked slowly towards its territory (i.e. from right Acknowledgements to left across the open space). This use of the taped call We thank Cliff Frith and James Fitzsimons for editing the worked three times but the Makira Thrush was extremely manuscript before review and to Guy Dutson and Phil Gregory shy, even more so than the Guadalcanal Thrush. for their reviews. We also thank Joseph our guide in Makira for his great knowledge of the birds and his kindness, and Markus Feeding Lagerqvist for his advice before our trip. One Makira Thrush was observed walking on the ground and scratching with its feet among dead leaves to find References invertebrates, similar to the foraging of European thrushes Clement, P., Hathway, R., Byers, C. & Wilczur, J. (2000). Thrushes. Turdus spp. Christopher Helm, London. Clements, J.F., Schulenberg, T.S., Iliff, M.J., Roberson, D., Fredericks, T.A., Sullivan, B.L. & Wood, C.L. (2016). The eBird/ Breeding Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2016. Available The Makira Thrush is thought to breed during the wet online: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/ download/ (retrieved 25 January 2017). season, but our guide knew nothing about its breeding Collar, N.J. (2005). Family Turdidae (thrushes). In: del Hoyo J., season. Every morning on the mountain we could hear Elliott A. & Christie D.A. (Eds). Handbook of the Birds of the Makira Thrushes singing throughout the day, not just at World, Volume 10: Cuckoo-Shrikes to Thrushes, pp. 514– first light. 807. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. 86 Australian Field Ornithology T. Quelennec & M. Quelennec

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