DOCSLIB.ORG

Red-Billed Leiothrix

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Red-Billed Leiothrix The Birds of North America, No. 359, 1998 TIM D. MALE, STEVEN G. FANCY, AND C. JOHN RALPH Leiothrix lutea Red-billed FRENCH: Léiothrix jaune Leiothrix nown in the cage bird trade as the Japanese Hill-Robin, Peking Robin, or Peking Nightingale, the Red-billed Leiothrix was first imported into the Hawaiian Islands in 1911 (Fisher and Baldwin 1947), with intentional releases to the wild occurring after 1918 (Caum 1933). A native of Southeast Asia, southern China, and the Himalayan regions of India, this species is a medium-sized, green and yellow babbler with a conspicuous red bill and strongly notched tail. The species is nest mostly among lower branches extremely active, but individuals are somewhat of dense vegetation, and rarely use secretive and difficult to see as they flit around canopy trees. The species is more in the understory, often in small groups. The gregarious and nomadic outside of Red-billed Leiothrix is found in a wide variety the breeding season, when flocks of of habitats in the Hawaiian Islands, including up to 100 birds have been observed. both native and exotic forests from sea level to It sings most persistently during the near mountain summits exceeding 4,000 m breeding season, but also through- elevation. out the year, particularly when going Leiothrix use a wide variety of native and to roost. Both sexes give a harsh, introduced plants for foraging and nesting, and repetitive Chatter Call in response to they feed on fruit and on invertebrates gleaned human and other animal intruders. from foliage and dead wood. They forage and The Birds of North America Life Histories for the 21st Century Figure 1. Distribution of the Red- billed Leiothrix in the Hawaiian Islands. This species is also found in Asia. Order PASSERIFORMES Family TIMALIIDAE 2 RED-BILLED LEfOTHRIX Leiothrix populations have fluctuated widely elevation on Moloka'i, Maui, and Hawai'i Is., but on different islands. On O'ahu Island, this species present to near sea level in places with dense cover. was one of the most common birds seen on Found on slopes of all mountains on Hawaii I., but Christmas Bird Counts (CBCs) in the 1950s, but it less common in dry forests on Mauna Kea and in declined dramatically in the 1960s. The O'ahu saddle between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. More population persisted at barely detectable levels common on East Maui than on West Maui and until the mid-1980s, but it has been increasing since widespread throughout native and nonnative forest then. In the 1940s, this may have been the most in Haleakalā National Park, valleys in Hana District, common bird species on Hawai'i Island, found and most other areas on upper slopes of Haleakalā from sea level in towns to the summits of Mauna Volcano; present in low numbers in dry forest of Loa and Mauna Kea Volcanoes. Today, it is no Kaupō Gap (Conant and Stemmerman 1979). longer common in many low-elevation sites and is Common on Moloka'i I. above 1,000 m elevation rare in some districts of the island. The Red-billed throughout most valleys and gulches on eastern half Leiothrix was abundant on Kaua'i Island in the of island. Previously found throughout upper- 1930s, persisting until the 1970s, but the breeding elevation forest on Kaua'i I. and in northern coastal population may have disappeared since then (Male valleys, such as Kalalau Valley (Richardson and and Snetsinger in press). The cause or causes of Bowles 1964), but may now be absent from this these dramatic population fluctuations remain island (Male and Snetsinger in press). Nests found unknown. at maximum elevation of 1,860 m on Hawai'i I. and minimum elevation of 150 m on O'ahu and Moloka'i Is. (Fisher and Baldwin 1947). DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS Continues to occupy breeding range during nonbreeding season, but flocks are seen above Small babbler with bright red bill. On adult, lores, 3,000 m elevation on Hawai'i and Maui Is. in Oct- crown, nape, and back are dull olive green, with Jan (Fisher and Baldwin 1947, Distasio 1997), bright yellow orange throat and yellow chin. Belly suggesting wider postbreeding movements. Review and undertail-coverts dull yellow. Ring around eye of all issues of journal 'Elepaio indicated that extending to bill is buffy to dull yellow. Primaries between Oct and Jan from 1944 to 1954, flocks and secondaries black, with yellow orange edges consistently moved into Honolulu suburb to visit on outer web; concealed portion of feathers olive fig trees (Ficus spp.; 'Elepaio 1944-1954). brown. Basal section of secondaries yellow orange, forming small square patch on closed wing. Proximal third of all inner primaries bright orange OUTSIDE THE AMERICAS to scarlet. Uppertail-coverts extend two-thirds the Native to China, including provinces of Hubei, length of tail and terminate with thin white line. Sichuan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, and Tail deeply notched; rectrices curve outward at tip. Yunnan (Caldwell and Caldwell 1931); Myanmar, Sexes similar, although females may be generally n. Vietnam, west to Himalayas of India, Bhutan, and duller. Nepal in forests with understory (Etchecopar and Juveniles have duller red and yellow wing- Hue 1983). Introduced population established on patches, yellow throat with rusty breast-band, and Kyushu, Japan, where it is increasing (Hitoshi 1994). slaty gray upperparts. Cheeks and forehead slaty Also released in Australia, Tahiti, France, Colombia, gray, with greenish wash; bill black, with varying and England (where nesting has occurred), but no amounts of red toward tip. Adultlike plumage populations yet established there (Long 1981). apparently achieved by Prebasic I molt (age 3- 4 mo). This distinctively plumaged species is unlikely to be confused with any others in Hawaiian Is. HISTORICAL CHANGES Kaua'i 1. First deliberate release to the wild in Hawaiian Is. was on Kaua'i in 1918, with later introductions in 1920s-1930s to other islands (Caum DISTRIBUTION 1933); some populations may have become estab- lished earlier from escaped cage birds (Fisher and HAWAIIAN ARCHIPELAGO Baldwin 1947). First mention of an established Figure 1. From Scott et al. 1986, except where population was that "the species occurs in rather noted. Widespread on islands of Hawai'i, Maui, large flocks on Kaua'i" (Caum 1933: 39), but large Moloka'i, and O'ahu in exotic and native forest numbers were never reported again. Richardson with dense understory. Not present on Lana'i or and Bowles (1964) found 9 birds in Jun 1960 at edge Kaho'olawe Is. (M. Morin pers. comm.). No current of Alaka'i Swamp and reported other sightings information on Ni'ihau I., but not present in 1947 from Kalalau Valley. Sincock et al. (1984) surveyed (Fisher 1951). More common above 1,000 m forests between 1969 and 1973 and estimated that there were approximately 2,400 ± 2,200 SD Red- A. Poole and F. Gill, Editors The American Ornithologists' Union T. D. MALE, S. G. FANCY, AND C. J. RALPH 3 billed Leiothrix on Kaua'i I., but they based this Ali and Ripley (1972) mention that L.1. calipyga was estimate on only a few sightings. Systematic surveys introduced to Hawaiian Is. without giving details conducted in early 1980s failed to find any leiothrix of which specimens they examined. Range of L. 1. (Scott et al. 1986), and none were detected during lutea is closest to all the Asian ports from which several forest bird surveys during 1990s (T. D. Male leiothrix were shipped (Fisher and Baldwin 1947), and T. J. Snetsinger unpubl.). Seen on a CBC in and specimens in Bishop Museum, Honolulu, lack 1974, but none seen on counts since 1984, although black in center of outer primary webs (TDM), 2 sightings by birders in 1982 and 1988; breeding making lutea the more likely subspecies. Numerous population may be extinct or close to extinction on subspecies may have been brought in at time of Kaua'i I. (Male and Snetsinger in press). introduction. Within Hawaiian Is., there is no evi- Oah'u 1. Uncommon in 1940s (Anonymous dence that populations on different islands show 1942), but CBC data indicated that its population any geographic variation in plumage (TDM). It is increased dramatically in 1950s and it became one unknown whether there is any genetic different- of the most abundant species. Review of issues of tiation among islands. In native range, "cline of in- journal 'Elepaio indicated that it was common on creasing color saturation runs from west to east" edges of Honolulu suburbs and sighted during (Vaurie 1959: 440). almost every bird hike undertaken by members of Hawaii Audubon Society from 1944-1955. Num- bers declined drastically during 1960s to almost SUBSPECIES undetectable levels; persisted in extremely low At least 4 subspecies in Asia (Vaurie 1959, Cheng numbers until mid-1980s (Williams 1987, Ralph 1987), possibly as many as 7 (Deignan 1964). Fifteen 1990). Leiothrix populations have increased since individuals from Hawaiian Is. were identified as that time, and are now commonly seen on CBCs nominate subspecies (Fisher and Baldwin 1947). L. and bird hikes (E. Vanderwerf pers. comm., TDM). 1. lutea has brightest colors, no black on outer pri- This pattern is typical of rapid expansion and decline mary webs, and less yellow on belly (Vaurie 1959); seen in some introduced species (Williams 1987). found across w., central, and s. China from s. Sichuan Hawaii 1. Less than 20 yr after release, leiothrix east through Hunan, and Guangdong, China, to were possibly the most common birds on Hawai'i L; north of Gulf of Tonkin (Caldwell and Caldwell found at sea level in valleys on Hāmākua coast and 1931). Deignan (1964) and Cheng (1987) maintain within city limits of Hilo (Amadon 1945).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Presentation Outline
    Nepal - nature, biodiversity & conservation Presentation outline • Nature: physiographic & climatic cond. & biodiversity • Bird diversity (rep. 38 families outof 69) • Threat status • Conservation initiatives Tej Basnet E-mail: [email protected] 2 Where is Nepal ........ Himalaya N Source: Hagen, T. 1998 Total area: 147181 SQ KM (0.1% land of earth) It contains the highest mountains in the world, The majestic Himalaya range Small, landlocked contains Eight of the world’s highest mountains, culminating in Mt. Everest. Population: 27,800,000 (approx) Agriculture dependent : 66% 3 4 1 Mt. Everest A 3600 footage at Lobuche (>5000m asl), from Everest region 5 6 Climate & physiographic general pattern in Nepal Physiographic zones with corresponding bioclimatic zones and sub-zones Cold Paleoarctic Pan Zone Physiographic Corresponding Bioclimatic zones & zones (LRMP 1986) sub-zones (Dobremez, 1972) High Himal zones sub-zones (altitudinal range) High Mountain Mid Hill High Himal Nival (above 5000m) Siwaliks Tarai Alpine Upper (from 4500 to 5000m) Lower (from 4000 to 4500m) High Mountain Sub-alpine Upper (from 3500 to 4000m) Lower (from 3000 to 3500m) Temperate Upper (from 2500 to 3000m Lower (from 2000 to 2500m) Mid Hill Sub-tropical Upper (from 1500 to 2000m) Lower (from 1000 to 1500m) Paleotropic Pan Zone Hot Altitude 60m – 8848m asl. Siwalik Tropical Upper (from 500 to 1000m) Terai Lower (below 500m) 7 8 Spectacular view from south to north Photo: R. Suwal 2 ”Walking through magnificent forests of Nepal’s contribution of Biodiversity in World‘s Total oak and rhododendrons beneath the towering white summits, one can Plant Species Animal Species understand why some claim this to be Group World Nepal Group World Nepal the most beautiful place on the planet”.
    [Show full text]
  • Tinamiformes – Falconiformes
    LIST OF THE 2,008 BIRD SPECIES (WITH SCIENTIFIC AND ENGLISH NAMES) KNOWN FROM THE A.O.U. CHECK-LIST AREA. Notes: "(A)" = accidental/casualin A.O.U. area; "(H)" -- recordedin A.O.U. area only from Hawaii; "(I)" = introducedinto A.O.U. area; "(N)" = has not bred in A.O.U. area but occursregularly as nonbreedingvisitor; "?" precedingname = extinct. TINAMIFORMES TINAMIDAE Tinamus major Great Tinamou. Nothocercusbonapartei Highland Tinamou. Crypturellus soui Little Tinamou. Crypturelluscinnamomeus Thicket Tinamou. Crypturellusboucardi Slaty-breastedTinamou. Crypturellus kerriae Choco Tinamou. GAVIIFORMES GAVIIDAE Gavia stellata Red-throated Loon. Gavia arctica Arctic Loon. Gavia pacifica Pacific Loon. Gavia immer Common Loon. Gavia adamsii Yellow-billed Loon. PODICIPEDIFORMES PODICIPEDIDAE Tachybaptusdominicus Least Grebe. Podilymbuspodiceps Pied-billed Grebe. ?Podilymbusgigas Atitlan Grebe. Podicepsauritus Horned Grebe. Podicepsgrisegena Red-neckedGrebe. Podicepsnigricollis Eared Grebe. Aechmophorusoccidentalis Western Grebe. Aechmophorusclarkii Clark's Grebe. PROCELLARIIFORMES DIOMEDEIDAE Thalassarchechlororhynchos Yellow-nosed Albatross. (A) Thalassarchecauta Shy Albatross.(A) Thalassarchemelanophris Black-browed Albatross. (A) Phoebetriapalpebrata Light-mantled Albatross. (A) Diomedea exulans WanderingAlbatross. (A) Phoebastriaimmutabilis Laysan Albatross. Phoebastrianigripes Black-lootedAlbatross. Phoebastriaalbatrus Short-tailedAlbatross. (N) PROCELLARIIDAE Fulmarus glacialis Northern Fulmar. Pterodroma neglecta KermadecPetrel. (A) Pterodroma
    [Show full text]
  • Assessment and Conservation of Threatened Bird Species at Laojunshan, Sichuan, China
    CLP Report Assessment and conservation of threatened bird species at Laojunshan, Sichuan, China Submitted by Jie Wang Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R.China E-mail:[email protected] To Conservation Leadership Programme, UK Contents 1. Summary 2. Study area 3. Avian fauna and conservation status of threatened bird species 4. Habitat analysis 5. Ecological assessment and community education 6. Outputs 7. Main references 8. Acknowledgements 1. Summary Laojunshan Nature Reserve is located at Yibin city, Sichuan province, south China. It belongs to eastern part of Liangshan mountains and is among the twenty-five hotspots of global biodiversity conservation. The local virgin alpine subtropical deciduous forests are abundant, which are actually rare at the same latitudes and harbor a tremendous diversity of plant and animal species. It is listed as a Global 200 ecoregion (WWF), an Important Bird Area (No. CN205), and an Endemic Bird Area (No. D14) (Stattersfield, et al . 1998). However, as a nature reserve newly built in 1999, it is only county-level and has no financial support from the central government. Especially, it is quite lack of scientific research, for example, the avifauna still remains unexplored except for some observations from bird watchers. Furthermore, the local community is extremely poor and facing modern development pressures, unmanaged human activities might seriously disturb the local ecosystem. We conducted our project from April to June 2007, funded by Conservation Leadership Programme. Two fieldwork strategies were used: “En bloc-Assessment” to produce an avifauna census and ecological assessments; "Special Survey" to assess the conservation status of some threatened endemic bird species.
    [Show full text]
  • Volume 2. Animals
    AC20 Doc. 8.5 Annex (English only/Seulement en anglais/Únicamente en inglés) REVIEW OF SIGNIFICANT TRADE ANALYSIS OF TRADE TRENDS WITH NOTES ON THE CONSERVATION STATUS OF SELECTED SPECIES Volume 2. Animals Prepared for the CITES Animals Committee, CITES Secretariat by the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre JANUARY 2004 AC20 Doc. 8.5 – p. 3 Prepared and produced by: UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK UNEP WORLD CONSERVATION MONITORING CENTRE (UNEP-WCMC) www.unep-wcmc.org The UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre is the biodiversity assessment and policy implementation arm of the United Nations Environment Programme, the world’s foremost intergovernmental environmental organisation. UNEP-WCMC aims to help decision-makers recognise the value of biodiversity to people everywhere, and to apply this knowledge to all that they do. The Centre’s challenge is to transform complex data into policy-relevant information, to build tools and systems for analysis and integration, and to support the needs of nations and the international community as they engage in joint programmes of action. UNEP-WCMC provides objective, scientifically rigorous products and services that include ecosystem assessments, support for implementation of environmental agreements, regional and global biodiversity information, research on threats and impacts, and development of future scenarios for the living world. Prepared for: The CITES Secretariat, Geneva A contribution to UNEP - The United Nations Environment Programme Printed by: UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, UK © Copyright: UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre/CITES Secretariat The contents of this report do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UNEP or contributory organisations.
    [Show full text]
  • Leiothrichidae Species Tree
    Leiothrichidae: Laughingthrushes, part I ?Javan Fulvetta, Alcippe pyrrhoptera Brown Fulvetta, Alcippe brunneicauda Brown-cheeked Fulvetta, Alcippe poioicephala Black-browed Fulvetta, Alcippe grotei Nepal Fulvetta, Alcippe nipalensis David’s Fulvetta, Alcippe davidi Yunnan Fulvetta, Alcippe fratercula Mountain Fulvetta, Alcippe peracensis Huet’s Fulvetta, Alcippe hueti Gray-cheeked Fulvetta, Alcippe morrisonia Striated Laughingthrush, Grammatoptila striata Himalayan Cutia, Cutia nipalensis ?Vietnamese Cutia, Cutia legalleni ?Spiny Babbler, Turdoides nipalensis ?Iraq Babbler, Turdoides altirostris ?Common Babbler, Turdoides caudata ?Afghan Babbler, Turdoides huttoni White-throated Babbler, Turdoides gularis ?Striated Babbler, Turdoides earlei ?Slender-billed Babbler, Turdoides longirostris ?Large Gray Babbler, Turdoides malcolmi ?Arabian Babbler, Turdoides squamiceps ?Fulvous Babbler, Turdoides fulva ?Scaly Chatterer, Turdoides aylmeri ?Rufous Chatterer, Turdoides rubiginosa ?Rufous Babbler, Turdoides subrufa ?Jungle Babbler, Turdoides striata ?Orange-billed Babbler, Turdoides rufescens ?Yellow-billed Babbler, Turdoides affinis Capuchin Babbler, Turdoides atripennis ?White-throated Mountain Babbler, Turdoides gilberti ?Red-collared Babbler, Turdoides rufocinctus Chapin’s Babbler, Turdoides chapini Southern Pied-Babbler, Turdoides bicolor ?Bare-cheeked Babbler, Turdoides gymnogenys ?Northern Pied-Babbler, Turdoides hypoleuca ?Black-faced Babbler, Turdoides melanops ?Black-lored Babbler, Turdoides sharpei ?Dusky Babbler, Turdoides tenebrosa
    [Show full text]
  • BABBLERS Husbandry and Management a Brief Review, Originally Presented at the AZA 2003 Eastern Regional
    BABBLERS Husbandry and Management A Brief Review, originally presented at the AZA 2003 Eastern Regional Jimmy Pichner Avian Supervisor Minnesota Zoo 13000 Zoo Blvd Apple Valley, MN 55124 Passeriformes Family Timaliidae (Muscicapidae) Babblers, Laughing Thrushes, Minlas, Sibias, Yuhinas, Red-billed leiothrix, Mesias and Liocichlas This large family has 260+ species, 48 of which are laughing thrushes. The Regional Collection Plan has targeted 12 species. Four species of laughing thrush White-crested laughing thrush, Garrulax leucolophus Black-throated laughing thrush, Garrulax chinensis Yellow-bellied laughing thrush, Garrulax galbanus Red-tailed laughing thrush, Garrulax milnei Silver-eared mesia, Leiothrix argentauris Red-billed leiothrix, Leiothrix lutea Red-faced liocichla, Liocichla phoenicea Blue-winged minla, Minla cyanouroptera Chestnut-backed scimitar babbler, Pomatorhinus montanus White-collared yuhina, Yuhina diademata Bearded tit babbler, Panurus biamiccus Vinous-throated parrotbill, Paradoxornis webbianus White-crested laughing thrushes have been proposed for PMP. Black- throated laughing thrushes, Yellow-bellied laughing thrushes, Red-billed leiothrix and Silver-eared mesias have DERP-monitor status and the remaining species have DERP- exhibit status. These Old World species are representatives of the Paleartic and Indomalayan regions. The majority of them inhabit the Himalayas, Malaysia, China and Southeastern Asia. The species have been chosen because they make excellent exhibit birds. They are the aviary favorites of both our visitors and us. Many an aviary would not be complete without the ruckus, dueting call of a pair of white- crested laughing thrushes or the beautiful call of the colorful red-billed leiothrix. The captive North American populations of these species are high enough that we may be able to sustain these species in our collections, at least for the short term, if our breeding consistency improves.
    [Show full text]
  • HOST LIST of AVIAN BROOD PARASITES - 2 - CUCULIFORMES - Old World Cuckoos
    Cuckoo hosts - page 1 HOST LIST OF AVIAN BROOD PARASITES - 2 - CUCULIFORMES - Old World cuckoos Peter E. Lowther, Field Museum version 05 Mar 2018 This list remains a working copy; colored text used often as editorial reminder; strike-out gives indication of alternate names. Names prefixed with “&” or “%” usually indicate the host species has successfully reared the brood parasite. Notes following names qualify host status or indicate source for inclusion in list. Important references on all Cuculiformes include Payne 2005 and Erritzøe et al. 2012 (the range maps from Erritzøe et al. 2012 can be accessed at http://www.fullerlab.org/cuckoos/.) Note on taxonomy. Cuckoo taxonomy here follows Payne 2005. Phylogenetic analysis has shown that brood parasitism has evolved in 3 clades within the Cuculiformes with monophyletic groups defined as Cuculinae (including genera Cuculus, Cerococcyx, Chrysococcyx, Cacomantis and Surniculus), Phaenicophaeinae (including nonparasitic genera Phaeniocphaeus and Piaya and the brood parasitic genus Clamator) and Neomorphinae (including parasitic genera Dromococcyx and Tapera and nonparasitic genera Geococcyx, Neomorphus, and Guira) (Aragón et al. 1999). For host species, most English and scientific names come from Sibley and Monroe (1990); taxonomy follows either Sibley and Monroe 1990 or Peterson 2014. Hosts listed at subspecific level indicate that that taxon sometimes considered specifically distinct (see notes in Sibley and Monroe 1990). Clamator Clamator Kaup 1829, Skizzirte Entwicklungs-Geschichte und natüriches System der Europäischen Thierwelt ... , p. 53. Chestnut-winged Cuckoo, Clamator coromandus (Linnaeus 1766) Systema Naturae, ed. 12, p. 171. Distribution. – Southern Asia. Host list. – Based on Friedmann 1964; see also Baker 1942, Erritzøe et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Bugun Liocichla Liocichla Bugunorum Sp
    82 Indian Birds Vol. 2 No. 4 (July-August 2006) A new species of Liocichla (Aves: Timaliidae) from Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh, India Ramana Athreya Athreya, R. 2006. A new species of Liocichla (Aves: Timaliidae) from Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh, India. Indian Birds 2 (4): 82-94. Publication date: 8 September 2006. Ramana Athreya, National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (TIFR), P.O. Bag 3, Pune University Campus, Pune 411007, India. Email: [email protected] This paper describes a new bird species of the genus Liocichla discovered near Eaglenest Wildlife Sanc- tuary in western Arunachal Pradesh, India. While the taxon most closely resembles L. omeiensis, an endemic of China, the many points of difference in plumage, size and vocalisations indicate a new species. The known population is very small and only three (breeding?) pairs responded to song play- back in May 2006. The plumage and the vocalisations are distinctive and therefore the paucity of records suggests a small and highly localized population. 1. A new species of liocichla releasing it in the same area on the same day after obtaining 1.1 The genus Liocichla photographs and detailed notes on its plumage. The iocichlas are an Asian babbler genus hitherto similarities between the Eaglenest taxon and L. omeiensis comprising three allopatric species. Red-faced suggest that they are closely related, but the many differences L Liocichla Liocichla phoenicea (Gould, 1837) [formerly in plumage and vocalisations—especially song—indicate a Crimson-winged Laughingthrush Garrulax phoeniceus] is new species and therefore I propose to name it: widely distributed from north-eastern India to north-western Vietnam through northern Myanmar, southern Yunnan Bugun Liocichla Liocichla bugunorum sp.
    [Show full text]
  • Bhutan March 26–April 14, 2019
    BHUTAN MARCH 26–APRIL 14, 2019 The Satyr Tragopan is one of the best pheasants on our planet! Photo by M. Valkenburg LEADER: MACHIEL VALKENBURG LIST COMPILED BY: MACHIEL VALKENBURG VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS, INC. 2525 WALLINGWOOD DRIVE, SUITE 1003 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78746 WWW.VENTBIRD.COM BHUTAN March 26–April 14, 2019 By Machiel Valkenburg Our annual adventure to Bhutan started in Delhi, where we all came together for the flight to Paro in Bhutan. The birding here started immediately outside of the airport parking lot, finding the wonderful Ibisbill, which we quickly located in the wide stream along the airport road. It seemed to be a cold spring, with quite an amount of snow still on the surrounding peaks. Our visit to the Cheli La (La means pass) was good for some new surprises like Snow Pigeon and Alpine Accentor. We found Himalayan White- browed Rosefinch feeding in an alpine meadow, and then suddenly two Himalayan Monals appeared and showed very well. Here we were happy with extra sightings of Blood Pheasant, Black Eagle, Blue-fronted Redstart, and Yellow-billed Blue-Magpie. After Paro, we started our journey east with a drive to Thimphu and Punakha, visiting Dochu La and Tashitang along the way. The birding in these places is nothing but spectacular with great sightings constantly. These lush green valleys are very photogenic, and many stops were made to take in all the landscapes. The birding was good here with excellent sightings of a crossing Hill Partridge, some exquisite Ultramarine Flycatchers, a close overhead Rufous-bellied Eagle, a surprise sighting of a day- roosting Tawny Fish-Owl, and some wonderful scope views of a party of Gray Treepies.
    [Show full text]
  • RED-BILLED LEIOTHRIX Leiothrix Lutea
    RED-BILLED LEIOTHRIX Leiothrix lutea Other: Peking (Pekin) Nightingale, Japanese Hill Robin, Mejiro L.l. lutea? naturalized (non-native) resident, long established The Red-billed Leiothrix is native to the Himalayan region from Nepal and n. India to s. China and Myanmar (Ali and Ripley 1996a, Hale et al. 1998, AOU 1998). A popular cage bird due to its attractive plumage and song, this species has been introduced or has escaped in various localities on five continents around the world, but only in the Southeastern Hawaiian Islands, and perhaps Hong Kong and Japan, have viable breeding populations become established (Long 1981, Lever 1987, Hale et al. 1998). Its alternative names (see above) were derived by aviculturists, as it is native to neither Beijing nor Japan, and it is neither a nightingale nor a robin. In a letter to HBAF making recommendations of birds to introduce to Hawaii for economic (insect pest-control) and aesthetic purposes, Henshaw (1911) extolled the virtues of the Red-billed Leiothrix and mentioned that they could easily be obtained from markets in San Francisco. In 1917-1936 the HBAF, the Hui Manu Society, and others dutifully introduced leiothixes, both from San Francisco and directly from Asia, to Kaua'i, O'ahu, Moloka'i, Maui, and Hawai'i I (Caum 1933, Fisher and Baldwin 1947, Swedberg 1967a; HFA 25:41; PoP 49[1]:17); we doubt that small numbers reportedly brought in for the aviculture trade in 1911-1916 had much of an influence (cf. Fisher and Baldwin 1947). Populations quickly expanded on all islands (Pedley 1949) and were found commonly or abundantly at elevations from sea level to above 2500 m within 10- 20 years of introduction.
    [Show full text]
  • Comprehensive Phylogeny of the Laughingthrushes and Allies (Aves, Leiothrichidae) and a Proposal for a Revised Taxonomy
    Received: 13 February 2018 | Revised: 10 April 2018 | Accepted: 1 May 2018 DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12296 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Comprehensive phylogeny of the laughingthrushes and allies (Aves, Leiothrichidae) and a proposal for a revised taxonomy Alice Cibois1 | Magnus Gelang2 | Per Alström3,4,5 | Eric Pasquet6 | Jon Fjeldså7 | Per G. P. Ericson8 | Urban Olsson9 1Natural History Museum of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland 2Göteborgs Naturhistoriska Museum, Göteborg, Sweden 3Department of Ecology and Genetics, Animal Ecology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden 4Swedish Species Information Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden 5Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China 6UMS MNHN/CNRS 2700 Outils et Méthodes de la Systématique Intégrative (OMSI) and UMR7205 Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité CNRS MNHN UPMC EPHE, Sorbonne Universités, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France 7Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Zoological Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark 8Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Molecular Systematics Laboratory, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden 9Department of Zoology, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden Correspondence Alice Cibois, Natural History Museum Abstract of Geneva, CP 6434, CH 1211 Geneva 6, DNA phylogenies have gradually shed light on the phylogenetic relationships of the Switzerland. large babbler group. We focus in this study on the family Leiothrichidae (laughingth- Email: [email protected] rushes and “song babblers”), which represents the largest clade of babblers in terms Funding information of species diversity. Our phylogeny includes all genera and 82% of the recognized Swedish Research Council, Grant/Award Number: 621-2007-5280 and 2015- species, using mitochondrial and nuclear loci.
    [Show full text]
  • Demography of an Introduced Red-Billed Leiothrix Population in Hawaii’
    The Condor 100:468-473 0 The Cooper Ornithological DEMOGRAPHY OF AN INTRODUCED RED-BILLED LEIOTHRIX POPULATION IN HAWAII’ C. JOHN RALPH U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Redwood Sciences Laboratory, I700 Bayview Drive, Arcata, CA 95521, e-mail: [email protected] STEVEN G. F ANCY2 U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center, P.O. Box 44, Hawaii National Park, HI 96718, e-mail: steve_fancy@ usgs.gov TIM D. MALE University of Hawaii, Department of Zoology, 2538 The Mall, Honolulu, HI 96822 Abstract. Relative abundance, timing of breeding and molting, annual survival, and philopatry of an introduced population of Red-billed Leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea) were studied at four sites on the island of Hawaii. Numbers of leiothrix on our study areas showed a regular cyclical pattern, with highest numbers during the breeding season. Peak breeding occurred May-August, followed by peak molting of flight and body feathers in August- October. Flocking behavior increased post-breeding, and many leiothrix left the study areas during the fall and winter months. Populations on two intensive study areas were stable, with high annual survival (x + SE = 0.581 + 0.115 for hatching-year birds and 0.786 t 0.047 for adults). Leiothrix seem to be relatively unaffected by avian diseases that have decimated some Hawaiian bird populations, and yet reasons for their large historical pop- ulation fluctuations remain unexplained. Key words: alien species, avian disease, demography, Hawaii, Leiothrix lutea, Red- billed Leiothrix. INTRODUCTION tion in its native range and high levels of trade More species of passerine birds have been in- for the cagebird market.
    [Show full text]