Biodiversity Observations http://bo.adu.org.za An electronic journal published by the Animal Demography Unit at the University of Cape Town The scope of Biodiversity Observations consists of papers describing observations about biodiversity in general, including animals, plants, algae and fungi. This includes observations of behaviour, breeding and flowering patterns, distributions and range extensions, foraging, food, movement, measurements, habitat and colouration/plumage variations. Biotic interactions such as pollination, fruit dispersal, herbivory and predation fall within the scope, as well as the use of indigenous and exotic species by humans. Observations of naturalised plants and animals will also be considered. Biodiversity Observations will also publish a variety of other interesting or relevant biodiversity material: reports of projects and conferences, annotated checklists for a site or region, specialist bibliographies, book reviews and any other appropriate material. Further details and guidelines to authors are on this website. Lead Editor: Arnold van der Westhuizen – Paper Editor: Les G Underhill CHECKLIST AND ANALYSIS OF THE BIRDS OF NAMIBIA AS AT 31 JANUARY 2016 CJ Brown, JM Mendelsohn, N Thomson & M Boorman Recommended citation format: Brown CJ, Mendelsohn JM, Thomson N, Boorman M 2017. Checklist and analysis of the birds of Namibia as at 31 January 2016. Biodiversity Observations 8.20: 1–153 URL: http://bo.adu.org.za/content.php?id=315 Published online: 22 April 2017 – ISSN 2219-0341 – Biodiversity Observations 8.20: 1–153 1 NATIONAL CHECKLIST Scottish Ornithologist’s Club (SOC). Namibia’s birds are placed in one of four categories: CHECKLIST AND ANALYSIS OF THE BIRDS OF A – Species which have been recorded, with unequivocal supporting NAMIBIA AS AT 31 JANUARY 2016 evidence, in an apparently natural state as occurring in Namibia at least once since 1850; CJ Brown*1, JM Mendelsohn2, N Thomson3 & M Boorman4 B – Species that although introduced now derive from the resulting 1Sustainable Solutions Trust, PO Box 6612, Ausspannplatz, Windhoek, self-sustaining populations; Namibia C – Species that have been recorded as introductions, human- 2 Raison, PO Box 1405, Windhoek, Namibia assisted transportees or escapees from captivity and whose breeding 3 PO Box 2179, Windhoek, Namibia populations (if any) are thought not to be self sustaining; and 4 PO Box 1445, Swakopmund, Namibia D – Species reported to occur in Namibia but for which there is as yet *Corresponding author: [email protected] no unequivocal evidence. The Namibia Bird List comprises only those species in Categories A ABSTRACT and B. In 2014 the Namibia Bird Club established a Namibia Bird Records A total of 676 bird species are admitted to the Namibia Bird List as Committee (NBRC) to compile and maintain the Namibia Bird List – at 31 January 2016, comprising 673 species in Category A and three a list of all species and subspecies of wild birds recorded in Namibia. alien naturalised breeders in Category B. A comprehensive list of all For a species or subspecies to qualify for admittance to the List the species and subspecies, together with their authors, dates, endemic Committee must be confident that there is unequivocal evidence of its status, conservation status, breeding and migrant status, distribution occurrence in Namibia. The NBRC also has responsibility for and means of verification is provided for Category A and Category B establishing principles and procedures for the work of the Committee, species in Annex 1. assessing and verifying past and new records to the List, updating the list of Namibia’s endemic species and subspecies, updating the list of Eleven species are assigned to Category C (Annex 2) and 37 species Namibia’s Red Data species, and any other reports of a related nature to Category D with notes explaining their status (Annex 3). considered relevant by the NBRC and the Namibia Bird Club Committee. The updated lists can be found at http://www.the- There are 16 Namibian endemic and near endemic species (2.4% of eis.com/namibia-bird-list.php. The NBRC is not a rarities committee, species). The only true endemic is the Dune Lark Calendulauda and therefore does not review the credibility of rare and unusual bird erythrochlamys. Ninety-three other southern African endemic and species recorded in Namibia. near-endemic bird species occur in Namibia which, together with the Namibian endemics and near-endemics, totals 109 southern African The principles and procedures for the work of the Committee are endemic and near-endemic species (16% of species - Annex 4). established herein, based largely on the Scottish system of the – ISSN 2219-0341 – Biodiversity Observations 8.20: 1–153 2 A total of 559 bird subspecies are currently admitted to the List, but most common are anderssoni (4), bradfieldi (4) and hoeschi (4). The our knowledge of distribution and boundaries is poor for many most common place names used are damarensis (19) and variously subspecies. There are 72 Namibian endemic and near-endemic namaqua, namaquus and namaquensis (5) for Great Namaqualand. subspecies (13% of all subspecies), and 165 other southern African endemic and near-endemic subspecies in Namibia which, together with the Namibian endemic and near-endemic subspecies, totals 237 subspecies (42% of all subspecies). About 76% of species on the Namibia Bird List breed in Namibia - 70% are breeding residents and 6% breeding intra-African migrants. About 16% of species are non-breeding migrants and just less than 8% are vagrants to Namibia. Seventy eight of Namibia’s bird species are assessed as either Threatened (51 species) or Near Threatened (27 species) in Namibia’s bird Red Data List (Annex 5). About 81% of these fall into one or more of four main categories, wetland birds (wetland degradation), seabirds (overfishing and destructive fishing methods), scavenging bird (poisons) and birds at risk from collision with power lines. The most prolific authors in the naming of Namibia’s bird species were Linnaeus (20% of species), Smith (10%), Vieillot (7%) and Gmelin (5%), while the most prolific authors of Namibia’s subspecies, excluding nominate subspecies, were Clancey (21%), Roberts (16%), Reichenow (12%) and Sharpe (7%). By 1800 about 38% of Namibia’s bird species had been named, by 1850 about 80% and by 1900 just on 97%. The naming of Namibia’s subspecies took place considerably later, with only 1% named by 1800, 10% by 1850 and 36% by 1900. About 40% of Namibia’s subspecies were named between 1900 and 1949 and 25% between 1950 and 1999. The type specimens of 35 species (Annex 6) and 103 subspecies (belonging to 90 species, and excluding nominate subspecies, Annex 7) on the Namibia Bird List were collected in Namibia. Of the type specimens collected in Namibia and named in honour of people, the – ISSN 2219-0341 – Biodiversity Observations 8.20: 1–153 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Topic Page A and B, species and subspecies 31 Topic Page STRUTHIONIFORMES: Struthionidae (Ostriches) 31 INTRODUCTION 6 GALLIFORMES: Numididae (Guineafowls) 31 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 6 Phasianidae (Partridges, 31 Francolins, Spurfowls, Quails) PROCEDURES 7 ANSERIFORMES: Anatidae (Whistling Ducks, 33 Voting procedure for acceptance of records 7 Ducks, Geese) Reviewing old records 7 SPHENISCIFORMES: Spheniscidae (Penguins) 35 Namibian Bird List 7 PROCELLARIIFORMES: Diomedeidae (Albatrosses) 35 Namibian List Recording 7 Procellariidae (Petrels, 36 Area Shearwaters) NBRC papers 7 Hydrobatidae (Storm Petrels) 38 Committee membership 7 PODICIPEDIFORMES: Podicipedidae (Grebes) 39 Principles 8 PHOENICOPTERIFORMES: Phoenicopteridae (Flamingos) 39 Verification and 8 PHAETHONTIFORMES: Phaethontidae (Tropicbirds) 40 CICONIIFORMES: Ciconiidae (Storks) 40 Assessment PELECANIFORMES: Threskiornithidae (Ibises, 41 Submission of records 9 Spoonbills) Categories 9 Ardeidae (Herons, Bitterns, 42 SYSTEMATIC LIST 11 Egrets) ANALYSIS OF NAMIBIA’S AVIFAUNA 12 Scopidae (Hamerkop) 44 Overview 12 Pelecanidae (Pelicans) 44 Endemic and near- 13 SULIFORMES: Sulidae (Boobies, Gannets) 45 endemic birds Phalacrocoracidae 45 Breeding and migrant 15 (Cormorants) status Anhingidae (Darters, 46 Anhingas) Conservation status 16 ACCIPITRIFORMES: Sagittariidae (Secretarybird) 46 Monotypic species and subspecies 18 Pandionidae (Ospreys) 46 Localities where Namibia’s birds were collected 18 Accipitridae (Kites, Hawks, 46 Authors of Namibia’s birds 19 Buzzards, Vultures, Eagles, Dates when Namibia’s birds were named 23 Goshawks, Sparrowhawks, Type specimens collected in Namibia 25 Harriers) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 26 FALCONIFORMES: Falconidae (Falcons, Kestrels) 53 REFERENCES 26 OTIDIFORMES: Otididae (Bustards, Korhaans) 54 ANNEX 1: Systematic list of the Birds of Namibia, 30 GRUIFORMES: Sarothruridae (Flufftails) 56 Categories Heliornithidae (Finfoots) 56 – ISSN 2219-0341 – Biodiversity Observations 8.20: 1–153 4 Topic Page Topic Page Rallidae (Rails, Crakes, 56 Meropidae (Bee-eaters) 84 Gallinules, Moorhens, Coots) BUCEROTIFORMES: Upupidae (Hoopoes) 85 Gruidae (Cranes) 58 Phoeniculidae (Wood- 85 CHARADRIIFORMES: Turnicidae (Buttonquails) 58 Hoopoes, Scimitarbills) Burhinidae (Thick-knees) 59 Bucerotidae (Typical Hornbills) 86 Haematopodidae 59 Bucorvidae (Ground Hornbills) 87 (Oystercatchers) PICIFORMES: Lybiidae (Tinkerbirds, African 87 Recurvirostridae (Stilts, 59 Barbets) Avocets) Indicatoridae (Honeyguides) 88 Charadriidae (Lapwings, 60 Picidae (Woodpeckers) 89 Plovers) PASSERIFORMES: Eurylaimidae (Broadbills) 90 Rostratulidae (Painted