Threatened Birds of Asia: the Birdlife International Red Data Book

Threatened Birds of Asia: The BirdLife International Red Data Book

Editors N. J. COLLAR (Editor-in-chief), A. V. ANDREEV, S. CHAN, M. J. CROSBY, S. SUBRAMANYA and J. A. TOBIAS

Maps by RUDYANTO and M. J. CROSBY

Principal compilers and data contributors ■ BANGLADESH P. Thompson ■ BHUTAN R. Pradhan; C. Inskipp, T. Inskipp ■ CAMBODIA Sun Hean; C. M. Poole ■ CHINA ■ MAINLAND CHINA Zheng Guangmei; Ding Changqing, Gao Wei, Gao Yuren, Li Fulai, Liu Naifa, Ma Zhijun, the late Tan Yaokuang, Wang Qishan, Xu Weishu, Yang Lan, Yu Zhiwei, Zhang Zhengwang. ■ HONG KONG Hong Kong Bird Watching Society (BirdLife Affiliate); H. F. Cheung; F. N. Y. Lock, C. K. W. Ma, Y. T. Yu. ■ TAIWAN Wild Bird Federation of Taiwan (BirdLife Partner); L. Liu Severinghaus; Chang Chin-lung, Chiang Ming-liang, Fang Woei-horng, Ho Yi-hsian, Hwang Kwang-yin, Lin Wei-yuan, Lin Wen-horn, Lo Hung-ren, Sha Chian-chung, Yau Cheng-teh. ■ INDIA Bombay Natural History Society (BirdLife Partner Designate) and Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History; L. Vijayan and V. S. Vijayan; S. Balachandran, R. Bhargava, P. C. Bhattacharjee, S. Bhupathy, A. Chaudhury, P. Gole, S. A. Hussain, R. Kaul, U. Lachungpa, R. Naroji, S. Pandey, A. Pittie, V. Prakash, A. Rahmani, P. Saikia, R. Sankaran, P. Singh, R. Sugathan, Zafar-ul Islam ■ INDONESIA BirdLife International Indonesia Country Programme; Ria Saryanthi; D. Agista, S. van Balen, Y. Cahyadin, R. F. A. Grimmett, F. R. Lambert, M. Poulsen, Rudyanto, I. Setiawan, C. Trainor ■ JAPAN Wild Bird Society of Japan (BirdLife Partner); Y. Fujimaki; Y. Kanai, H. Morioka, K. Ono, H. Uchida, M. Ueta, N. Yanagisawa ■ KOREA ■ NORTH KOREA Pak U-il; Chong Jong-ryol, Rim Chu- yon. ■ SOUTH KOREA Lee Woo-shin; Han Sang-hoon, Kim Jin-han, Lee Ki-sup, Park Jin- young ■ LAOS K. Khounboline; W. J. Duckworth ■ MALAYSIA Malaysian Nature Society (BirdLife Partner); K. Kumar; G. Noramly, M. J. Kohler ■ MONGOLIA D. Batdelger; A. Bräunlich, N. Tseveenmyadag ■ MYANMAR Khin Ma Ma Thwin ■ NEPAL Bird Conservation Nepal (BirdLife Affiliate); H. S. Baral; C. Inskipp, T. P. Inskipp ■ PAKISTAN Ornithological Society of Pakistan (BirdLife Affiliate) ■ PHILIPPINES Haribon Foundation for Conservation of Natural Resources (BirdLife Partner); N. A. D. Mallari, B. R. Tabaranza, Jr. ■ RUSSIA Russian Bird Conservation Union (BirdLife Partner Designate); A. V. Andreev; A. G. Degtyarev, V. G. Degtyarev, V. A. Dugintsov, N. N. Gerasimov, Yu. N. Gerasimov, N. I. Germogenov, O. A. Goroshko, A. V. Kondrat’ev, Yu. V. Labutin, N. M. Litvinenko, Yu. N. Nazarov, V. A. Nechaev, V. I. Perfil’ev, R. V. Ryabtsev, Yu. V. Shibaev, S. G. Surmach, E. E. Tkachenko, O. P. Val’chuk, B. A. Voronov. ■ SINGAPORE The Nature Society (Singapore) (BirdLife Partner); Lim Kim Seng ■ SRI LANKA Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka (BirdLife Affiliate); S. Kotagama; S. Aryaprema, S. Corea, J. P. G. Jones, U. Fernando, R. Perera, M. Siriwardhane, K. Weerakoon ■ THAILAND Bird Conservation Society of Thailand (BirdLife Partner); U. Treesucon; R. Jugmongkol, V. Kongthong, P. Poonswad, P. D. Round, S. Supparatvikorn ■ VIETNAM BirdLife International Vietnam Country Programme; Nguyen Cu; J. C. Eames, A. W. Tordoff, Le Trong Trai, Nguyen Duc Tu.

With contributions from: S. H. M. Butchart, D. S. Butler (maps), P. Davidson, J. C. Lowen, G. C. L. Dutson, N. B. Peet, T. Vetta (maps), J. M. Villasper (maps), M. G. Wilson Recommended citation BirdLife International (2001) Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book. Cambridge, UK: BirdLife International.

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ISBN 0 946888 42 6 (Part A) ISBN 0 946888 43 4 (Part B) ISBN 0 946888 44 2 (Set)

British Library-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

First published 2001 by BirdLife International

Designed and produced by the NatureBureau, 36 Kingfisher Court, Hambridge Road, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 5SJ, United Kingdom

Available from the Natural History Book Service Ltd, 2–3 Wills Road, Totnes, Devon TQ9 5XN, UK. Tel: +44 1803 865913 Fax: +44 1803 865280 Email [email protected] Internet: www.nhbs.com/services/birdlife.html

The presentation of material in this book and the geographical designations employed do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of BirdLife International concerning the legal status of any country, territory or area, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. ASHY-HEADED LAUGHINGTHRUSH Garrulax cinereifrons

Critical — Endangered — Vulnerable B1+2a,b,c,d,e; C1

This species has a small, declining population and range, which is also severely fragmented, as a result of clearance and degradation of its humid forest habitat. These factors qualify it as Vulnerable.

DISTRIBUTION The Ashy-headed Laughingthrush is found in the lowland rainforests of the wet zone in south-west Sri Lanka, and at up to c.1,500 m on the southern and western aspects of the central mountains, in the lower montane forests of the hill zone. Its forest habitat is now fragmented within its small range (see Threats). Records (arranged approximately from north to south) are as follows: ■ SRI LANKA Kurunegala district, undated (Legge 1880); Puswella (Pusilwella), December 1865 (three specimens in BMNH); Galagedera (Gallagedara), February 1872 (specimen in BMNH); Kandy, undated (Hume 1878c); Deltota district, undated (Legge 1880); Punduloya, July 1882 (female in AMNH), July 1894 (three specimens in AMNH, BMNH and SMF), June 1895 (female in AMNH); Kitulgala, at Kitulgala resthouse, undated (Ranasinghe 1982), one, February 1981 (Mulford 1990); Nuwara Eliya, undated (Legge 1880); Avissawella (Awisavella), December 1865 (female in BMNH); Ikkadi Barawe Forest, 29 km from Colombo, February 1877 (Legge 1880, three specimens in BMNH); Thotupolakanda, above 2,300 m, pair, August (unspecified year) (Ceylon Bird Club News August 1987); Kelani valley, probable sight records, undated (Berlioz 1964); Palabaddala (Pallabaddoola Peak Range), undated (Layard 1853–1854); Peak Forests, now in the Peak Wilderness Sanctuary, Sabaragamuwa province, undated (Legge 1880), up to 1,500 m, 1890s (Lewis 1898); Rygamkorale, June 1895 (two specimens in AMNH and MCZ); Kuruwiti (Kuruwiti Korah Forests), Sabaragamuwa province, 1890s (Lewis 1898); Gilimale, April 1866 (two specimens in AMNH, BMNH); Kalu Ganga river, c.65 km inland from Kalatura, several specimens collected, undated (Layard 1853–1854); Gilimale-Eratne, one, 1991–1996 (IUCN/WCMC 1997); Bambarabotuwa, one, 1991–1996 (IUCN/WCMC 1997); Bolgoda, August 1894 (two specimens in MCZ); lower Bulatgama, Sabaragamuwa province, undated (Lewis 1898); Balangoda, February 1906 (female in USNM), c.1945 (Ripley 1946); Pettiyagalla (Petragalla), Balangoda, undated (Abdulali 1968–1996); Kaluweakella, Pelmadulla, August 1944 (male in USNM; also Ripley 1946); Kukal Korale (Kukkul Korale), undated (Legge 1880); Pasdun Korale, undated (Legge 1880); Karawita, one, 1991–1996 (IUCN/WCMC 1997); Morapitiya (Moupitiya), including Morapitiya Forest Reserve, August 1876 (male in BMNH), three flocks, March 1984 (Ceylon Bird Club News March 1984), pair nesting, March 1984, 10 birds, December 1987 (Ceylon Bird Club News December 1987); Badureliya, 70 km south-east of Colombo, under 50 m, November 1944 (Ripley 1946, male in USNM); Delwala, 20 sightings, July–September 1997 (Jones et al. 1998); Kudumiriya, 52 sightings, September 1997 (Jones et al. 1998); Rakwana, April 1929 (male in BMNH), c.1945 (Ripley 1946); Walankanda Forest Reserve, 24 sightings, August–September 1997 (Jones et al. 1998); Depedene estate, Rakwana, 750 m, September 1944 (Ripley 1946, five specimens in USNM); Sinharaja Forest Reserve, many records from before 1880 (Legge 1880) to January 1998 (P. J. Hines in litt. 1999) and down to the present (D. Warakagoda verbally 2000); Morningside (Sooriyakanda), 11 birds, March 2000 (K. Weerakoon in litt. 2000); Dellawa, one, 1991–1996 (IUCN/WCMC 1997); Diyadawa, one,

2061 Threatened birds of Asia

SRI LANKA 1

1 2 3 4

7 6 9 10 8 11 14 12 13 17 15 20 16 19 18 21 24 23 26 25 27 22 30 28 29 33 32 31 35 34 36 37 38

I N D I A N O C E A N

2062 Garrulax cinereifrons

1991–1996 (IUCN/WCMC 1997); Batahena (untraced), one, 1991–1996 (IUCN/WCMC 1997).

POPULATION There is little information on the population of this species, which has been recorded in small numbers at many sites (see Distribution). In the late nineteenth century it was “found sparingly” (Legge 1880), and in the mid-twentieth century it was considered “moderately plentiful” (Phillips 1953), indicating that it was never very abundant. Since then, it is likely to have declined significantly because of the reduction and fragmentation of the wet-zone forests that it inhabits (see Threats), and it has recently been described as “scarce” (Ranasinghe 1982) and “rare” (Kotagama and Fernando 1994). In three wet-zone lowland forests surveyed in 1997 it was well distributed throughout areas of undisturbed forest at all sites, but was always found at low densities (Jones et al. 1998). Monospecific flocks encountered by Legge (1880) and Lewis (1898) contained 10–20 individuals, but those found by Jones et al. (1998) contained no more than six. During a major survey of over 200 forest sites in Sri Lanka in 1991–1996, this species was recorded in only six forests (IUCN/WCMC 1997). Given its small range and the reduction in the area of its habitat, it is unlikely that it currently numbers more than a few thousand individuals.

ECOLOGY Habitat This species is confined to relatively undisturbed areas of dense humid forest, at altitudes of up to at least c.1,520 m (Baker 1922–1930, Henry 1955). It is a shy bird, and appears to be confined to the forest interior, as (unlike virtually all other forest species) it is never seen at the forest edge (R. L. Fleming Jr. 1977). It has been described as “loving the gloom and shade of the dampest forests in the island and delighting in the seclusion provided by the thick underwood and dense bamboo thickets” (Legge 1880), and “found only in the gloomy hearts of the dampest forest tracts” (Phillips 1939). During recent surveys, it was not recorded close to logging roads, and was mainly restricted to undisturbed forest, although at one site a few were observed in abandoned “chena” cultivation (Jones et al. 1998). Food It usually feeds in flocks (Legge 1880, Henry 1955), either monospecific or mixed with other species, most commonly Orange-billed Babbler Turdoides rufescens (Legge 1880, Jones et al. 1998). It also associates with small squirrels (Henry 1955). The main food is likely to be insects (Henry 1955, Ali and Ripley 1968–1998) and other small invertebrates found in the leaf-litter (Jones et al. 1998). It has been reported to feed “among the tangled underwood, in spots covered by dead leaves, and delights in exploring the mossy recesses of fallen trunks, in which humid spots it finds an abundance of caterpillars, bugs Hemiptera and coleopterous insects” (Legge 1880), and indeed it has been observed to spend most of its time searching the leaf-litter, apparently for small invertebrates (Lushington undated). The stomachs of specimens have been found to contain the remains of “grubs, small snails, coleoptera and seeds” (Layard 1853–1854). Breeding The breeding season is probably fairly extended. Legge (1880) thought it lasted from April to July, based on a combination of observations of fledged chicks in August and comments of local people who claimed it nested in April. At one nest, building was completed by the end of March and three eggs had been laid by 3 April (Banks and Banks 1987). Young

The distribution of Ashy-headed Laughingthrush Garrulax cinereifrons (map opposite): (1) Kurunegala; (2) Puswella; (3) Galagedera; (4) Kandy; (5) Deltota; (6) Punduloya; (7) Kitulgala; (8) Nuwara Eliya; (9) Avissawella; (10) Ikkaddi Barawe Forest; (11) Thotupolakanda; (12) Palabaddala; (13) Peak Wilderness Sanctuary; (14) Rygamkorale; (15) Kuruwiti; (16) Gilimale; (17) Kalu Ganga; (18) Gilimale-Eratne; (19) Bambarabotuwa; (20) Bolgoda; (21) Bulatgama; (22) Balangoda; (23) Pettiyagalla; (24) Pelmadulla; (25) Kukal Korale; (26) Pasdun Korale; (27) Karawita; (28) Morapitiya; (29) Badureliya; (30) Delwala; (31) Kudumiriya; (32) Rakwana; (33) Walankanda Forest Reserve; (34) Depedene; (35) Sinharaja Forest Reserve; (36) Morningside; (37) Dellawa; (38) Diyadawa. Historical (pre-1950) Recent (1980–present) Undated

2063 Threatened birds of Asia have been seen in April, July and August (Ceylon Bird Club News 1994, Whistler 1944), and recently fledged young in April (Henry 1955). Specimens have been recorded with apparently enlarged testes in September and November (USNM label data). The nest found by Banks and Banks (1987) was positioned in the fork of a small sapling about 5 m from the ground on a fairly steep hillside with some quite tall trees. A completed nest was described as an untidy football-sized mass of twigs and leaves with a neat nest-cup on top (Henry 1998).

THREATS The Ashy-headed Laughingthrush is one of (now) seven threatened members of the suite of 23 bird species that are entirely restricted to the “Sri Lanka Endemic Bird Area”, threats and conservation measures in which are profiled by Stattersfield et al. (1998). Habitat loss The main threat to this species is the clearance and degradation of its forest habitat (Hoffmann 1984). Given that it appears to be confined to the interior of undisturbed forest (and is presumably unable to move between isolated blocks of forest) (see Ecology), it may be particularly vulnerable to habitat loss and fragmentation. A general survey of forest loss in Sri Lanka is made in the equivalent section under Red-faced Malkoha Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus.

MEASURES TAKEN Legislation, habitat protection, research A brief review is made in the equivalent section under Red-faced Malkoha. Protected areas This species occurs in several national parks and forest reserves, most notably Sinharaja National Heritage Wilderness Area, a World Heritage Site which is actively protected under the jurisdiction of the Forest Department (IUCN/WCMC 1997).

MEASURES PROPOSED Habitat protection, protected areas A brief review is made in the equivalent section under Red-faced Malkoha. Research The restricted range of this species, its relatively low density and its dependence on undisturbed habitat all indicate that it is worthy of close monitoring (Jones et al. 1998). Given that it appears to be confined to the interior of undisturbed forest, it would be valuable to study its habitat requirements and dispersive capabilities to determine the most appropriate forest conservation and management regimes for its conservation. Despite the wealth of data generated by the National Conservation Review in 1991–1996, much more detailed and wide-ranging surveys will be required to plan and monitor the management of individual conservation forests once they are established (IUCN/WCMC 1997).

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