76 Indian BIRDS Vol. 13 No. 3 (Publ. 29 June 2017)

individual as a Mishmi Wren-babbler. Sound recordings deposited Alinye is just 33 km from the Line of Control (between China and in the Avian Vocalizations Center (AVoCet; avocet.zoology.msu. India), the border is along ridges above 3500 m asl and mostly edu: AV# 20013, 20014) include songs that strongly resemble much higher, so this species seems unlikely to have been able to those of birds from farther south. Thus, there is no reasonable cross into Tibet, even though small areas of apparently suitable doubt as to the identity of the Alinye bird being a Mishmi Wren- habitat, and elevation, occur in valleys there. babbler. The bird was extremely confiding and demonstrative, making no attempt to remain hidden, coming out several times Acknowledgements onto low branches, and remaining there for several seconds before moving to another one. It eventually moved into a hidden We thank the Government of Arunachal Pradesh for permission to enter the state. Our travel and birding companion, Roon Bhuyan, also provided transport. Nikhil Devasar, position from which it sang repeatedly. Prior to this sighting, RM Asian Adventures, organised our travel. Praveen J. provided helpful information. Aniko had documented at least five individuals of this species from Mihu and Wendu Miso of Alinye Tourist Lodging gave welcome hospitality. PCR thanks Anini–Mipi road (c. 28.62°N, 95.90°E) on 08 June 2016, and 02 the Delia Koo Global Faculty Endowment, and Siddharth Chandra, Asian Studies July 2016, in roadside undergrowth around 1610 m asl. Center, Michigan State University, for travel support. Given that the species is considered globally Vulnerable (BirdLife International 2016), this new locality strongly suggests References that the distribution of the Mishmi Wren-babbler encompasses a BirdLife International, 2016. Species factsheet: Spelaeornis badeigularis. Downloaded considerably larger area than previously documented, and that its from http://www.birdlife.org on 08/12/2016. habitat and climatic preferences are fairly broad. Further surveys King, B., & Donahue, J. P., 2006. The rediscovery and song of the Rusty-throated Wren- are needed in the Anini area, and elsewhere, to the west and east babbler Spelaeornis badeigularis. Forktail 22: 113–115. of the Dibang Valley. If it were found in further locations it would Lozupone, P., Beehler, B. M., & Ripley, S. D., 2004. Ornithological gazetteer of the probably warrant downlisting to Near Threatened, as BirdLife Indian Subcontinent. 1st ed. Washington DC, USA: Center for Applied Biodiversity International (2016) indicated would be appropriate if it is found Science, Conservation International. Pp. 1–190. to be more widespread. However, it has apparently not been Rasmussen, P. C., & Anderton, J. C., 2012. Birds of South Asia: the Ripley guide. 2nd ed. Washington, D.C. and Barcelona: Smithsonian Institution and Lynx Edicions. 2 reported from the Walong road, not far to the east of the Lohit vols. Pp. 1–378. Valley where the type was collected. Areas immediately to the Ripley, S. D., 1950. A note about the Wren-babbler, Spelaeornis. The Auk 67 (3): west of the Roing–Anini road are poorly explored ornithologically, 390–391. so the western extent of the species’ range is unknown. Although

Eastern Marsh Harrier Circus spilonotus from Irinjalakuda, Thrissur, Kerala, India

Raphy Kallettumkara

Kallettumkara, R., 2017. Eastern Marsh Harrier Circus spilonotus from Irinjalakuda, Thrissur, Kerala, India. Indian BIRDS 13 (3): 76–77. K.S Raphy, Kariparambill house, Kallettumkara, near Aloor grama panchayath, Thrissur, Kerala, India 680683. E-mail: [email protected]. Manuscript received on 10 May 2017.

n 02 April 2017, at 1230 hrs, my children alerted me Further discussions in various groups also suggested that this about a ‘kite’ that was flying over a small wetland next was a potential, or a definite, candidate for an Eastern Marsh Oto my house. I was surprised to see that it was a harrier Harrier. Meanwhile, Chaiyan Kasorndorkbua from Thailand, who Circus sp., as I had never seen any near my home. Through is familiar with both the species, confirmed that it was an adult binoculars I saw that it was a largish harrier, potentially one that female Eastern Marsh Harrier. I discuss below the reasons why it could be a Pied Harrier C. melanoleucos. It was upon a dead is identified as such. Lesser Whistling Duck Dendrocygna javanica, and was trying to pick it off the ground [107]. I did not see how the duck had been • The bird is obviously a female or a juvenile male – as all killed; if at all by the harrier. adult male harriers are well-marked birds with pale grey as I would have entered the knee-deep water to get closer, the prominent body colour, with black primaries, and white but numerous crows were already mobbing the harrier, and so I underparts. decided not to disturb it further. I continued taking pictures of it • The bird has wide wings, with five prominent primary ‘fingers’ perching, and in flight[108-110] , till I had to leave on work. [108]; that eliminates the smaller Pallid- C. macrourus, and Upon checking the photographs later, I realised the bird was Montagu’s C. pygargus Harriers Additionally, females and not easily identifiable. Having suspected it to be a Pied Harrier, by juveniles of both the species have strongly marked face, and its size, I posted a picture to the Whatsapp group that had many head marking, unlike this bird [107]. bird-watchers from Kerala, as a potential Pied Harrier. Praveen J. • The bird has a paler, streaked body, predominantly pale suspected it was a Pied- or an Eastern Marsh Harrier C. spilonotus. underwings, barred upperwings, and lacks the typical head Kallettumkara: Eastern Marsh Harrier 77

median- and secondary underwing coverts [109], and lack of uniform pale primary upper coverts, and upper secondaries eliminate a male Western Marsh Harrier [108, 109]. • Lack of any sort of facial pattern [107], and less well-marked underwing [110] eliminates a juvenile or female Hen Harrier. • That leaves only Pied- and Eastern Marsh Harriers for discussion.

A Pied Harrier should, ideally, show a hooded, owl-like appearance even in juvenile plumage. The face of this bird is plain, with no prominent pale border around the eyes, with just a 107. The Eastern Marsh Harrier Circus spilonotus perched on a Lesser Whistling Duck. dark eye patch, and lacks a prominent pale collar [107]. Overall, the bird appears to have a stronger bill, and slightly larger than a Western Marsh Harrier. Other features, like the hint of a carpal patch, rufous-brown underparts and thighs, also favour a female Eastern Marsh Harrier, over a female Pied Harrier [107, 108]. The images were sent to Chaiyan Kasorndorkbua, who is familiar with both the species, and he confirmed that it was an adult female Eastern Marsh Harrier, based upon several features such as: Less buff patagial band [108]; less contrasting brown and grey upper wing [108]; bold streaks on buff (compare white of female Pied) underparts [108]; and wide black sub-terminal band on trailing edge of the wings [110] (Chaiyan Kasorndorkbua in litt., e-mail dated 27 April 2017). 108. The Eastern Marsh Harrier wide wings, with five prominent primary ‘fingers’. Jonathan Eames reported one bird on 08 February 1991 from Periyar Tiger Reserve (9.46°N, 77.24°E), Kerala (Robson 1991), but there is no field description with it. Due to lack of well- substantiated records, Rasmussen & Anderton (2005) considered it hypothetical. Later, it was accepted into the list of birds of South Asia in Rasmussen & Anderton (2012) based on photographs from West Bengal (Kesavabharathi & Sundaran 2016). From southern India, Eastern Marsh Harrier was photographed in Chennai (Kesavabharathi & Sundaran 2016), and that remains the only published report from India, apart from a photograph in Naoroji (2007). There is another photographic report from Telengana this year in eBird (Pradhan 2017). This is an addition to the birds of Kerala (Praveen 2015), and the third record for southern India (see p. 83 of this issue).

109. The Eastern Marsh Harrier banking to show the dorsal wing pattern. Acknowledgements I thank Praveen J for all his help; he took the initiative to collect details, discussing it with the experts, and passing on the information to me. I am also grateful to Chaiyan Kasorndorkbua for his expert advice in confirming this record. Several editors of eBird helped in providing their opinion and contributed to the discussion – Rajah Jayapal, Dipu Karthedathu, C. Sashikumar, and Rajneesh Suvarna, and I thank them.

References Kesavabharati, G., & Sundaram, C., 2016. Eastern Marsh Harrier Circus spilonotus photographed in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, southern India. Indian BIRDS 11 (3): 75–76. Naoroji, R., 2007. Birds of prey of the Indian Subcontinent. 1st ed. New Delhi: Om Books International. Pp. 1–692. Pradhan, A. K., 2017. Website URL: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S34169274. [Accessed on 10 May 2017.] Praveen J., 2015. A checklist of birds of Kerala, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 7 (13): 7983–8009. Praveen J., Jayapal, R., & Pittie, A., 2016. A checklist of the birds of India. Indian BIRDS Pics: Raphy Kallettumkara 11 (5&6): 113–172A. 110. The soaring Eastern Marsh Harrier. Rasmussen, P. C., & Anderton, J. C., 2005. Birds of South Asia: the Ripley guide: attributes and status. 1st ed. Washington, D.C. and Barcelona: Smithsonian Institution and Lynx Edicions. Vol. 2 of 2 vols. Pp. 1–683. pattern of a juvenile, or a female Western Marsh Harrier [108, Rasmussen, P. C., & Anderton, J. C., 2012. Birds of South Asia: the Ripley guide: 109] attributes and status. 2nd ed. Washington, D.C. and Barcelona: Smithsonian • Well-barred primaries (lacking black tips), barred secondaries Institution and Lynx Edicions. Vol. 2 of 2 vols. Pp. 1–683. (compare uniformly coloured in Western Mash), well-marked Robson, C., 1991. Recent reports: India. Oriental Bird Club Bulletin 13 (July): 49–50.