THE CONDOR

JOURNAL OF THE COOPER ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Volume 82 Number 2 May 1980

NOTES ON THE , NATURAL HISTORY, AND STATUS OF THE RESIDENT OF

H. DOUGLAS PRATT JOHN ENGBRING PHILLIP L. BRUNER AND DELWYN G. BERRETT

ABSTRACT.-This paper reports observations made from 1976 to 1979 of the resident birds of the Palau Islands in western Micronesia. Comments on population status, distribution, and habitat are made for all . Song descriptions and food habits are reported for many species. Nests are de- scribed for Megapodius laperouse, Ptilinopus pelewensis, Cettia (=Psama- thia) annae, Myiagra erythrops, Rhipidura lepida, Zosterops cinerea, My- zomela cardinalis, Aplonis opaca, and Artamus Zeucorhynchus. Taxonomic comments are made on Ptilinopus, Coracina, Psamathia, Myiagra, Colluri- cincla, and Megazosterops. The recommendation is made that Pyrrhoglaux podargina, Rhipidura lepida, and possibly Megapodius laperouse be declas- sified as Endangered Species, but that Palau populations of Rallina eurizo- noides, Gallinula chloropus, Porphyrio porphyrio, and Caprimulgus indicus be considered for such listing.

The Palau Islands lie at the western ex- U.S. Forest Service has begun surveys of treme of Micronesia about equidistant from birdlife in Micronesia, including Palau Mindanao, the Moluccas, and (Ralph and Sakai 1979). Because of the (Fig. 1). The islands are part of the U.S. awakening interest in Palauan birds, we Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands have prepared this summary of our recent (TTPI), but that status will change in the observations in order to provide information near future when the trusteeship expires. and show where information is lacking. As Although possessing the richest avifauna in most of our notes on migrants will be Micronesia, Palau has been sadly neglected published elsewhere (Pratt and Bruner, in by ornithologists until recently. Only a few press), this paper deals only with the resi- brief notes on the birds have appeared in dent breeding birds. Our comments on sta- the almost three decades since Marshall tus are preliminary assessments pending (1949) and Baker (1951) published their ob- publication of Engbrings’ quantitative data. servations. In recent years the work of Rob- For the most part, the nests reported herein ert P. Owen (1977a, b, and c), TTPI Chief are the first for the species. Our knowledge Conservationist, at the Trust Territory Bi- of Palauan birds has been greatly increased ology Laboratory at Koror in Palau has be- by conversations with Owen, and we in- gun to focus attention on Palauan birds once clude many of his observations as well as again. A proposal to build an oil tanker some of the information contained in three superport at Palau has made environmen- unpublished government reports (Owen talists aware of the islands (Gosnell 1976) 1977a, Engbring 1977, 1978). and has at last brought some Federal atten- Berrett, Bruner, and Pratt first visited Pa- tion. A survey of populations at Palau lau in June 1976 and studied on Koror, Ma- has recently been completed by John lakal, Arakabesan, southern Babelthuap, Engbring under Owens’ direction. Also the Peleliu, and the Seventy Islands Preserve

Condor, 82: 117-131 [I171 @ The Cooper Ornithological Society 1980 118 H. D. PRATT ET AL.

._._,_.‘ “...; ,..., .I:,.:’ ., ../‘ : f ; ,_/ .. .: z-Z.. /i ,. : c.. . ’ ,i .: VOLCANO IS. ...‘ .; : ’ ; ,:. :, \ . 3 : ._;“: :...: :.*:.<‘ : :,, ..‘ .%‘ /?‘ _. .,‘ ;. ’ ,.. i... : ’ i‘ .‘ ..‘ <:;,‘ 2.:‘ i PAL AU ““$‘ ’ $,..; i CAROLINE IS.

FIGURE 1. The Southwest Pacific showing the lo- cation of Palau and other islands mentioned in the text.

(Fig. 2). Pratt returned to Palau 16-23 Jan- uary 1978 and conducted investigations on southern Babelthuap, in additional areas on Peleliu, and to a lesser extent on Koror, Malakal, and Arakabesan. Bruner and Pratt revisited the islands from 24 June to 4 July 1978, observing (with Engbring) additional areas, particularly the central islands south of Koror. Engbring arrived in Palau 1 July 1977 and began fieldwork in September of that year. He visited all areas of Palau dur- ing his service through June 1979. Pratt has recorded numerous bird vocal- izations, the first ever of Palauan birds. These tapes are deposited in the Library of Natural Sounds, Cornell Laboratory of Or- :..p ANGAUR nithology. Our efforts to obtain permits to FIGURE 2. Map of Palau showing the major islands take specimens of birds were unsuccessful. mentioned in the text. Islands of coralline limestone Palau District Code, Section 202, protects () are indicated in solid black. Dotted lines (on paper at least) most birds of the islands indicate coral reefs. and makes no provision for scientific col- lecting. This situation is unfortunate in that little anatomical material and no tissue sam- and habitats of Palau is that of Gressitt ples of Palauan birds exist, and many taxo- (1954). In general, the southern islands are nomic questions may require such speci- of raised coral limestone and the northern mens for satisfactory resolution. Efforts are ones are of ancient volcanic soil. Some is- now under way to persuade local legislators lands, such as Koror, have some volcanic to amend their well-intentioned statute so and some coralline areas (Fig. 2). The lime- as to allow collecting under permit (Owen, stone islands between Koror and Peleliu are pers. comm.). largely uninhabitable. They are covered with a dense growth of forest over jagged THE ISLANDS coralline rubble on precipitous slopes. The main Palau Islands (Fig. 2) range in These “rock islands” are characteristically size from Babelthuap (397 sq. km) to tiny undercut at the waterline by water solution rock islets. All except the southernmost is- and the action of marine organisms such as land of Angaur and two outlying atolls to chitons, with only a few sheltered beaches. the north are enclosed within a single reef Peleliu lies on the barrier reef at the south- system. An excellent account of the geology ern end and is a relatively flat coralline is- THE BIRDS OF PALAU 119

TABLE 1. Summary of distribution and status of Palauan land and freshwater birds. Status abbreviations: A, abundant; C, common; U, uncommon; R, rare; X, extirpated; ?, status uncertain.

Babelthuap Arakabesan KOXX Urukthapel Eil Malk Peleliu Angaur

Ixobrychus sine&s C U U U U U C Anus superciliosa R X R R Megapodius laperouse R R U C C C C Gallus gallus C U U A A Rallina eurizonoides U U U U U U U Rallus philippensis C C C A Poliolimnas cinereus R R R Gallinula chloropus X X R Porphyria porphyrio U R U Caloenas nicobarica R R U U Gallicolumba canifrons R R U U R Ptilinopus pelewensis A A A A A Ducula oceanica A C A A Pyrrhoglaux podargina C C C C R Caprimulgus indicus U U R R Cacatua galerita R R U U Eclectus roratus R R U U Aerodramus vanikorensis C C A Halcyon cinnamomina C U C ?z Halcyon chloris C C C C C C Coracina tenuirostris U U U U Cettia annae A C A Myiagra erythrops C C ; C Rhipidura lepida U C C Colluricincla tenebrosa C C C Zosterops cinerea A C C Zosterops conspicillata C C C U Megazosterops palauensis C A cardinalis C C C C C Erythrura trichroa U U U Lonchura malacca A Aplonis opaca A A A A A Artamus leucorhynchus R

land with extensive beaches; it supports a THE AVIFAUNA small human population. Angaur, separated from Peleliu by 10.5 km of open ocean, is The Palauan avifauna comprises represen- a low, flat island which also has a small hu- tatives of 38 families, either as breeding res- man population. Both Peleliu and Angaur idents or migrant visitors. A high level of were devastated by World War II (Baker endemism at the species or subspecies level 1946) and their vegetation is entirely sec- characterizes the terrestrial avifauna, but ond growth. Nevertheless, at least on Pele- the breeding seabirds are species that are liu some areas of tropical forest have re- widespread in tropical waters (Baker 1951). covered impressively. The main population The migrants include winter visitors from center of Palau is on the volcanic western the Asiatic mainland and Japan. Shorebirds part of Koror, with satellite communities on predominate among such visitors but the neighboring Arakabesan and Malakal. These list also includes herons, raptors, and pas- three islands are joined by causeways and serines. A few species visit Palau during the are collectively known as the Koror com- southern winter. plex. They are devoted largely to agricul- Several Palauan birds are listed as En- ture and residential areas, but forests re- dangered Species by Federal (Federal Reg- main on the western end of Arakabesan and ister, 26 September 1975) or local (Title 17, on the limestone eastern portion of Koror. Code of the Trust Territory) statutes. The Babelthuaps’ population is mainly confined inclusion of these birds in the Federal list to the coastal periphery of the island, with was apparently based on published ac- very little disturbance of the vast and, prior counts shortly after the cessation of World to Engbrings’ work, ornithologically little War II (Marshall 1949, Baker 1951), when known interior forests. With fewer than avian habitats had been severely disturbed 15,000 people, Palau cannot be said to be by battle (Baker 1946). As we will indicate, overcrowded. several of these species seem to have re- 120 H. D. PRATT ET AL. covered completely and may eventually be herons congregate at times at the garbage removed from the lists (Owen, pers. comm.). dump/landfill site at Koror, particularly at Several others not now listed may warrant high tide. When tides are low, Rufous inclusion, however. Table 1 shows the dis- Night-Herons disperse to mudflats in the tributions among the major islands (Fig. 2) surrounding bays. The birds also can be of Palauan land and freshwater birds. Most seen on sandspits, shallow shorelines, and species are found on all main islands except in trees on the rock islands. We have rarely Angaur, but a few present enigmatic distri- noted this species in freshwater habitats at butional anomalies discussed in the follow- Palau. ing species accounts. Egretta sacra sacra. Pacific Reef Heron. Puffinus lherminieri dichrous. Audubons’ These dichromatic herons are fairly com- Shearwater. This is apparently the only mon shoreline birds at Palau, with the white shearwater that breeds at Palau. It is prob- and gray color phases occurring in about ably common, if not abundant, but its habits equal numbers. We can discern no segre- make accurate population estimates diffi- gation of the two types based on habitat as cult. The birds are rarely seen among the has been postulated elsewhere (Bruner main islands during the day, but begin to 1972) and the phases seem to associate ran- appear at dusk as they fly in from the open domly. Pacific Reef Herons are infrequently sea. On 4 July 1978, Bruner, Pratt, and found among the flocks of herons and egrets Engbring observed such a flight of these that gather in winter at the Koror garbage shearwaters in a sheltered bay at the west- dump. ern end of Urukthapel. The birds were Anas superciliosa pelewensis. Australian roosting or nesting in the forest atop a sheer Gray Duck. The Palau population of this cliff-sided rock island. The few shearwaters species is apparently quite small. Marshall that appeared early were silent and circled (1949) and Baker (1951) found none, and we the island without landing. When the light have not found any in the main islands. had faded so that the birds were barely vis- Engbring saw five individuals (one male, ible against the sky, shearwaters began call- two females, and two ducklings 6-8 weeks ing and flying into the forest on the island. old) between 12 and 15 October 1977 on a As darkness deepened, their eerie squeals large freshwater pond at the southeast side created a cacophony. From the amount of of the landing strip on Angaur. Palau is the noise we estimated that the colony consist- type locality of this widespread Southwest ed of at least several hundred birds. Pacific subspecies, and the small Australian Phalacrocorax melanoleucos melanoleu- Gray Duck population there deserves to be cos. Little Pied Cormorant. Micronesias’ considered an Endangered Species. only cormorant is an uncommon bird at Pa- Megapodius laperouse senex. Microne- lau. It occurs anywhere in lagoon waters, sian Megapode. The Palau subspecies of but is most numerous in the shallow bays the Micronesian Megapode has been gen- and along the boat channels at the north end erally believed to be rare (Baker 1951, of Peleliu. Cormorants also occur on fresh- Greenway 1967) but Marshall (1949) con- water ponds and reservoirs on Koror and sidered it to be abundant. Owen (1977a) Babelthuap and on marine lakes on Angaur. considered the megapode “exterminated on Zxobrychus sinensis. Yellow Bittern. This Koror, Arakabesan, and Malakal.” Our ob- small bittern is much less numerous at Pa- servations reveal that these birds are prob- lau than in the Marianas (Pratt et al. 1979) ably not in serious trouble at Palau. They or at Yap but is by no means rare. Its favored are present and apparently numerous on habitat, dry grassy fields and edges, occurs virtually every coralline island we have vis- only sparingly in the archipelago. We have ited from Urukthapel to Peleliu, and local noted Yellow Bitterns on southern Babel- residents report the birds in low numbers thuap, Koror, Malakal, Angaur, and rarely in on Angaur. In 1978 Engbring found mega- the larger rock islands. At Palau, this podes on the uninhabited portion of Koror species utters a harsh krek-krek when in the and, suprisingly, on Malakal and received presence of other individuals, but is usually reliable reports of an active nest mound on solitary and silent. The nest is built near the Arakabesan. Micronesian Megapodes are ground in thick vegetation. We have no data rare on Babelthuap, and local residents con- to indicate what proportion of Yellow Bit- sider the population there to be declining. terns seen at Palau may be migrants from The highest density of megapodes, how- eastern Asia. ever, occurs on a small, flat, sandy, unin- Nycticorax caledonicus pelewensis. Ru- habited island in the atoll of Kayangel. Here fous Night-Heron. As many as 50 of these Engbring found nest mounds every 50 m. THE BIRDS OF PALAU 121

Despite legal protection, megapodes are north of Peleliu, but junglefowl are appar- still hunted and their eggs collected for ently absent from the true high rock islands. food. Nevertheless, we find the birds ’ status Perhaps the ground there is too steep and encouraging. The species seems highly re- rough for them. They are also present deep silient, and probably easily recolonizes is- in the interior forests of Babelthuap but are lands it formerly inhabited when hunting relatively rare there. Engbring believes that pressure is reduced. The birds can occa- considerable intermingling of wild and do- sionally be seen flying several kilometers mestic stocks occurs near residential areas. between islands, and the Poliolimnas cinereus micronesiae. White- subspecies (M. 1. laperouse) has apparently browed Rail. This species is apparently recently recolonized Saipan (Pratt and Bru- more wary and less vocal at Palau than at ner 1978). Yap where it is, for a rail, conspicuous (Pratt Favored sites for incubation mounds are et al. 1977 and observations by Pratt in sandy beaches surrounded by steep forest- 1978). Owen (pers. comm.) considers it un- ed slopes. At these locations mounds are common. Engbring found it common on An- constructed mainly of sand, with moist gaur in October 1977, but the bird is far vegetation placed inside with the eggs. The from common elsewhere. The grassy habitat mounds are not placed in direct sun, but on Babelthuap, where these rails are rare, rather are shaded by trees. Often small appears identical to areas on Yap where plants grow on the surface of the mound it- they are abundant. However, Banded Rails self. In areas without sand, such as parts of (Rallus philippensis) share this habitat on eastern Peleliu, megapode mounds may be Babelthuap, but are absent from Yap. constructed of rough coralline rubble. White-browed Rails have also been seen re- Owen (pers. comm.) has noted that in the cently at two localities on Peleliu. forested upper reaches of the rock islands, Rallus philippensis pelewensis. Banded mounds may be mostly vegetable matter. Rail. This rail is abundant along roadsides Adult megapodes return to their mounds on Peleliu and Angaur. In the savannah- from time to time, particularly in the early grassland habitat of southern Babelthuap, morning, apparently for maintenance. Re- the rails are not uncommon, but we do not cent scratch marks near the apex of many consider them abundant as did Marshall mounds may result from upkeep of the (1949). He reported hearing dozens of mound or serve a display function. Most of Banded Rails in the evening, but we have the mounds we saw ranged in diameter heard their calls infrequently on Babel- from 2 to 6 m and from 1 to 2 m in height. thuap. The population there may have de- We found active mounds on two beaches clined since 1945. that were frequently used by picnickers. Rallina eurizonoides eurixonoides. Band- Apparently, mere proximity of human activ- ed Crake. This species is apparently both ity is not inimical to megapodes. The mega- secretive and uncommon. Owen (pers. pode deserves legal protection, but its spe- comm.) has seen adults with young on Ko- cial status as an Endangered Species ror, and Engbring saw one on Angaur in probably should be reassessed. 1977 and another on Malakal in 1978. In Micronesian Megapodes feed on seeds, 1976, we recorded a monotonous ow-ow-ow other vegetable matter, insects, and crabs. nocturnal call emanating from a cane thicket We have found that the calls of this subspe- on Arakabesan. The vocalist did not re- cies differ from those of M. 1. laperouse of spond to playback, but flushed from above the Marianas (Pratt and Bruner 1978). One the ground when Bruner entered the thick- call often heard at Palau is a single loud et. We heard this call during daylight from keek, apparently a contact note used by a cane thickets near the previous site in 1978 foraging pair. This note may be elaborated but still could not see the bird. Some of into a loud “crow”: keek-keer-kew! with the Owens’ co-workers identified the call as notes dropping in pitch. The homologous that of the Banded Crake in 1976, and call of the Mariana bird does not drop at the Engbring has since confirmed the identifi- end. A low cuk-cuk-cuk etc. call given by cation. The call may also be uttered in noc- both subspecies is somewhat lower in pitch turnal flight. at Palau. Porphyrio porphyrio pelewensis. Purple Gallus gallus. Red Junglefowl. The feral Swamp Hen. This distinctive local subspe- fowl of Palau are quite wary. They are most cies may be quite rare. Baker (1951) report- common on the smooth stony soils of Pele- ed it only from Koror and Angaur, and Mar- liu and Angaur. Baker (1951) reported them shall (1949) did not see any but received from several low flat islands of coral rubble reports of the birds ’ presence on Peleliu. 122 H. D. PRATT ET AL.

Pratt, Berrett, and Bruner noted one indi- land. This flight line was still in use in June. vidual in a taro patch on Peleliu in July In early July 1978 Bruner, Engbring, and 1976. The swamp hen was “uncommon” on Pratt saw several small tight flocks of these Angaur in October 1977 (Engbring 1977) birds in strong direct flight among the rock and only two individuals were seen on Pel- islands. Other individuals were flushed eliu during a week of observation in May from the forests on these islands. As many 1978 (Engbring 1978). However, in 1979 as 18 Nicobar Pigeons were seen in a single Engbring found five individuals at a small day. pond there. We have noted single individ- These pigeons have a rather duck-like uals on southern Babelthuap in July 1976 flight, owing to their deep rapid wing-beats (HDP, DGB, PLB) and January 1978 and very short tails that seem even shorter (HDP). These limited observations proba- because of the white color. We noted sev- bly indicate that only a very small popula- eral immatures with black tails. We have tion exists and that the subspecies may be never seen the birds soar in the manner de- endangered. Nevertheless, this species is scribed by Baker (1951). We have heard no one of the few birds not protected by local vocalizations from this species. Nicobar Pi- statute at Palau (apparently because swamp geons are so secretive in the forest and so hens are reputed to eat young taro) and it is silent that they are easily overlooked. Thus included in neither the Federal nor the we believe they may be more common at TTPI list of Endangered Species. Owen Palau than has been supposed. The Nicobar (1977a) reported that the bird is not perse- Pigeon at Palau is largely terrestrial, feed- cuted because of a local taboo. ing on seeds and fruit both on the ground Gallinula chloropus subsp.? Common and in trees. Gallinule. The gallinule is apparently even Gallicolumba canifrons. Palau Ground- rarer at Palau than in the Marianas (Pratt et Dove. Published accounts of this Endan- al. 1979) and may be restricted to the south- gered Species are enigmatic. Whether its ernmost islands. Marshall (1949) and Baker scarcity is real or only apparent cannot be (1951) reported it only from Peleliu and An- stated at present. Certainly we found the gaur, and Engbring has found it only on the ground-dove to be one of ’ most elu- latter. Gallinules are absent from apparently sive species, but the birds’ habits are such suitable freshwater habitats on Koror and that many individuals could remain unde- Babelthuap. This population is definitely tected even in well-explored places. Mar- endangered. shalls’ (1949) description of the Palau Caloenas nicobarica pelewensis. Nicobar Ground-Doves’ terrestrial foraging habits is Pigeon. This large pigeon is listed as en- apt. The seemingly contradictory descrip- dangered by the TTPI. Marshall (1949) saw tions by Marshall (1949) and Baker (1951) only two during a month at Palau in 1945. of the ground-doves’ vocalizations are both Baker (1951) reported only five in a similar accurate. The bird utters both a series of period that year, and considered the sub- coos as described by Marshall (1949) and a species “on the road to extinction.” Appar- low moan as discussed by Baker (1951). The ently the has recovered distinctive series of short notes is most often somewhat since 1945, but it still cannot be heard at dawn or dusk. The moan is so sim- considered common. Berrett and Pratt saw ilar to one of the calls of the Micronesian two individuals on the forest floor of eastern Pigeon (Ducula oceanica, discussed below) Peleliu in 1976. The birds circled each oth- that only considerable field experience will er, flapping their wings and erecting their enable an observer to distinguish them. long neck feathers but uttering no sounds. Thus even the ground doves’ vocalizations When approached, they ran away into the exacerbate the problems of making accurate forest but did not fly. Later during that visit population estimates. Both Baker (1951) and other Nicobar Pigeons were seen in the Marshall (1949) believed the ground dove area, some on the ground and others in to be found only on rocky coralline ground trees. In 1978 Engbring (May) and Bruner and most of our observations bear out their and Pratt (July) again noted low numbers of contention. We have observed these birds these pigeons on Peleliu. The bird is prob- on all the major limestone islands from Ko- ably uncommon but not rare there. In Jan- ror to Angaur. Pratt tape recorded the coo- uary 1978 Pratt noted a daily late afternoon coo-coo call of the Palau Ground-Dove on flight of two or three of these pigeons from volcanic Arakabesan in June 1978; notably an island in Iwayama Bay, enclosed by the the bird was calling from a small area of cor- island of Koror, toward the forested ridge of alline soil at the western end of the island. the limestone eastern part of the main is- However, both Owen (pers. comm.) and THE BIRDS OF PALAU 123

FIGURE 3. Sonograms of the three Micronesian species. Produced on a Kay Sonagraph with wide band setting by R. M. Beck at the Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University.

Engbring have found this species on Ba- 24 May 1978, Engbring found a Palau Fruit belthuap and believe it to be present in very Dove nest in mangroves about 2 m above low numbers on volcanic soils. The Palau the water. The flimsy stick structure held a Ground-Dove feeds on seeds picked up single white egg. Fruit doves feed on fleshy from the ground. seeds and small fruits gleaned in the upper Ptilinopus pelewensis. Palau Fruit Dove. forest canopy. Baker (1951) reported Palau This dove has been variously treated as a Fruit Doves in “small numbers” in 1945, separate species (Goodwin 1977) and as a apparently the result of persistent hunting subspecies of P. porphyraceus (Mayr 1945, during the previous Japanese mandate. For- Baker 1951). We believe the former treat- tunately, the population has recovered dra- ment most closely reflects the birds’ evolu- matically and these colorful doves might tionary position. In addition to the striking well be considered abundant today. plumage differences between P. pelewensis Ducula oceanica monacha. Micronesian and the various subspecies of P. porphyra- Pigeon. Despite considerable hunting pres- ceus, the birds differ in vocalizations. Mar- sure, this large pigeon is still common at shall (1949) compared the call of P. pelew- Palau. A legal shooting season has been es- ensis with that of P. roseicapilla of the tablished in November and December, but Marianas. The Palau birds’ song shows less poaching occurs throughout the year (Owen divergence from that of P. porphyraceus in 1977a). Although Owen (1977a) believes the eastern Carolines than from that of the such activities are depleting the species, we Mariana bird, as might be expected from doubt that the bird is in any serious trouble plumage characters. Songs of the three Mi- except perhaps on the heavily populated is- cronesian Ptilinopus are shown in Figure 3. lands. The exception to this optimistic as- The most prominent distinction of the song sessment is the island of Peleliu, where the of P. pelewensis is the halting or hesitating Micronesian Pigeon is rare. Residents of rhythm of the initial notes: Whooo, whup- Angaur have reported this species in recent whooo, whoo-who-who-who-who-who. The years, but Engbring found none there in song of P. porphyraceus at Truk and Ponape October 1977. consists of whos given at more or less reg- We can add little to Marshalls’ (1949) ac- ular intervals. The Palau Fruit Dove also count of the ecology of Ducula at Palau. utters a low, quiet moan while feeding. This The birds’ vocalizations have been only in- call is similar to certain calls of the Palau completely described, however. The deep- Ground-Dove and the Micronesian Pigeon, throated barking call described by Marshall but is much quieter than either. (1949) is the most noticeable vocalization, Palau Fruit Doves are found in virtually but the pigeons have a wide repertoire of all forested habitats in the islands. The quieter sounds given during feeding or at songs are among the characteristic environ- rest. A frequently heard moan is so similar mental sounds of Palau, noticed even by to one call of the Palau Ground-Dove as to persons not usually aware of birds. The - make use of the two calls in censusing very like quality of the song was noted by Mar- difficult. Other vocalizations include a se- shall (I949), who felt that nocturnal singing ries of coos, deeper and slower than the by the fruit dove was stimulated by the songs of Gallicolumba or Ptilinopus, and a voice of the Palau Owl (Pyrrhoglaux podar- variety of other growling or cooing notes. gina). We have heard the fruit dove call at Cacatua galerita. Sulphur-crested Cock- night without such a stimulus, however. On atoo. Marshall (1949) first reported intro- 124 H. D. PRATT ET AL. duced cockatoos at Palau, but the specific apocryphal account in the hope of stimulat- identity of the birds was not determined ing such investigation. J. M. Diamond (pers. until later (Ripley 1951). These parrots have comm.) reports similar stories elsewhere in thrived at Palau, and are now widespread the Southwest Pacific of large toads being in the forests of nearly all the rock islands. killed by ingested beetles. Because of the depredations of the cocka- Marshalls’ (1949) account of the behavior too, which eats the hearts of palms, the rock and vocalizations of the Palau Owl is excel- island palm (Gulubia palauensis) and the lent, and to it we can add little. We have Palau palm (Ptychosperma palauensis) have infrequently heard the owl call by day. Also, been placed on the TTPI list of Endangered we believe territory size may now be some- Species (Owen, pers. comm.). what truncated under population pressure. Eclectus rorutus. Eclectus Parrot. Ripley We have on several occasions heard as (1951) first reported this exotic parrot at Pa- many as five birds calling simultaneously. lau and Forshaw (1973) considered it as Clearly the density of Pyrrhoglaux is much probably established. Our observations in- greater than that of any mainland owl dicate that Eclectus Parrots, which have species with which we are familiar. been implicated along with the Sulphur- Caprimulgus indicus phalaena. Jungle crested Cockatoo in the destruction of na- Nightjar. The Jungle Nightjar is apparently tive palms, are now fairly common in the declining at Palau. Marshall (1949) consid- central rock islands, and are almost as nu- ered it common, but we have encountered merous as the cockatoos. The two exotic it only infrequently. In 1976 we heard sev- parrots often flock together at Palau. eral individuals on Arakabesan, but found Pyrrhoglaux podargina. Palau Owl. When none there in 1978. We did not find the bird Marshall (1949) and Baker (1951) visited in seemingly ideal habitat on Peleliu in Palau in 1945, the endemic owl was scarce, 1976, and heard only one in the rock islands even though Coultas (in Baker 1951) had in 1978. Pratt heard the odd knocking vocal- reported it fairly common in 1931. On this izations on eastern Koror in January 1978, basis the bird was included in the U.S. and but could not find any nightjars there later TTPI Endangered Species lists. Fortunate- in the year. He and Engbring found at least ly, the outlook for the species is greatly im- two individuals in the forests of southern proved. We have found the birds abundant Babelthuap in January. One bird responded throughout the archipelago. Owen (pers. to playback of the recorded song by flying comm.) believes the Palau ’ population directly at the speaker, pulling up at the last history may be related to that of the beetle instant, and dropping to the ground for a Oryctes rhinoceros, a serious introduced few seconds, after which it flew deeper into pest in coconut plantations. A campaign to the forest and began calling once again. control this insect in the Pacific was waged Engbring heard six Jungle Nightjars on Pel- in the 1950s’ (for a popular account see eliu in May 1978. The preferred habitat at Brower 1974). Owen was directly involved Palau is the mangrove/lowland forest eco- in the project in Palau, and reported that a tone. We have never witnessed the evening combination of biological control methods foraging flights or singing choruses de- had brought a measure of success by the late scribed by Marshall (1949). This species 1960s.’ During this same period, the Palau may deserve to be placed on the list of En- Owl had continued to decline. However, dangered Species, as it is almost certainly since the 1960s,’ Owen (pers. comm.) re- less numerous than several of the species so ported a steady increase in the owl to its listed at present. present abundant state. The population Aerodramus vanikorensis pelewensis. trends of the owl and the beetle might seem Vanikoro Swiftlet. We follow Brooke (1972) unrelated except for some anecdotal evi- and Medway and Pye (1977) in using the dence. Owen had received reports from Pa- generic name, ,and Medway (1975) in con- lauans in the early 1960s’ that the owls were sidering this form a subspecies of A. vani- being killed by beetles they had eaten! Cer- korensis. Among the Micronesian races of tainly, Oryctes is capable of such an act this species, A. v. pelewensis is the most (Brower 1974 claimed that this beetle can distinctive in possessing a very noticeable tear through hardboards and brass screen- pale rump patch and somewhat darker body ing), but direct evidence was lacking until plumage than the others. The squeaky chat- Owen received a dead owl that had been tering vocalizations of the Palau bird are in- eviscerated, apparently from within. No di- frequently uttered and resemble those of rect study of the owl-beetle interaction was the other Micronesian swiftlets. We do not ever made, and we offer this somewhat know whether A. v. pelewensis is capable THE BIRDS OF PALAU 125 of echolocation, but caves are frequent havioral contexts of the various calls for enough in the rock islands that such an abil- meaningful conclusions to be drawn now. ity would probably be adaptive. The Vani- Corn&a tenuirostris monacha. Cicada- koro Swiftlet is abundant throughout most bird. Micronesian Cicadabirds present a of Palau but is enigmatically absent from number of evolutionary problems as has Angaur. been noted elsewhere (Pratt et al. 1977). Halcyon cinnamomina pelewensis. Mi- The three forms do not differ in plumage cronesian Kingfisher. The two kingfishers at characters any more than can be expected Palau appear to segregate themselves pri- among allopatric subspecies, but the Yap marily by habitat, the present species being bird C. t. nesiotis is larger than the other a denizen of deep forests, rarely seen near two. Apparently none of the Micronesian the water. The fact that no so-called “char- forms possesses the cicada-like call pro- acter displacement” has occurred may in- duced by this species in (Slater dicate that the two species do not compete 1974) and from which the English name is directly. Halcyon c. pelewensis and H. derived. The only call of the Palau bird we chloris teraokai are closer in bill measure- have heard is a short, quiet, upslurred whis- ments (Marshall 1949) than are the allopat- tle easily overlooked among other forest ric H. chloris albicilla and H. c. cinnamom- sounds. Marshall (1949) reported also a ina in the Marianas. Vocally, the two forms downslurred note with a “twanging quali- at Palau both have rolling creee calls that, ty.” At least the first of these notes is absent to our ears, are identical and thus may be from the repertoire of the Ponape subspe- evidence of interspecific territoriality. Oth- cies C. t. insperata and probably also from er calls, as described by Marshall (1949) are that of C. t. nesiotis, the voice of which is distinctive. The Micronesian Kingfisher is similar to that of insperata according to ob- much less common than its larger relative at servations made on Yap by Pratt in August Palau, but this apparent scarcity may result 1978. partly from the retiring habits of the smaller Cicadabirds are uncommon but widely bird. In the summer of I978 we noted in- distributed at Palau. Essentially birds of dividuals or pairs on Koror, Urukthapel, dense forest, particularly mangroves, they Peleliu, and in the smaller southern rock is- can be seen sometimes at edges and in low lands. Engbring has found Micronesian scrubby vegetation such as is found in the Kingfishers throughout the upland forests of hills of southern Babelthuap. Baker (1951) Babelthuap. Halcyon cinnamomina feeds did not record this species from the rock is- mainly on insects. lands, but we have found them on Uruktha- Halcyon chloris teraokai. Collared, or pel and nearby islands. Mangrove Kingfisher. This larger kingfisher Cettia annae. Palau Bush-Warbler. This is common throughout Palau, keeping bird is abundant at Palau but rarely seen. mainly to coastal areas. However, Pratt and Its song is one of the characteristic sounds Engbring have found it in the savannahs and of the forest throughout the archipelago dur- forested uplands of southern Babelthaup, ing at least part of the year. The song may where the Micronesian Kingfisher is appar- be only a single long, flutelike, melancholy ently absent. In some areas, such as eastern whistle. The whistle is repeated at different Koror, the two species co-exist locally. The pitches, often at minor-third intervals, pro- Collared Kingfisher is bold and conspicuous ducing eerie harmonies in chorus. Often so in contrast to its smaller relative. It often many bush-warblers are singing that the feeds over water or tidal flats where prey in- sound is almost continuous with one note cludes insects, small fish, and crustaceans. modulating into another. Sometimes the This kingfisher also harasses and occasion- whistle is slurred upward or downward, and ally kills small birds including chicks of sometimes the bird stutters a bit at the out- domestic fowl. Marshall (1949) discussed set. To this whistle is usually appended an geographic variation among western Micro- excited jumble of high-pitched chirps. nesian Halcyon. A behavioral quirk of H. c. Another song is totally different, with no teraokai that distinguishes it from the races initial whistle; it resembles somewhat the of H. chloris in the Mariana Islands is an dawn song of Myzomela cardinalis in Mi- upward flip of the tail that accompanies the cronesia. The call is a dry unmusical chat- clip-clip call note. Much remains to be learned about the systematics of the H. ter. Palau Bush-Warblers may exhibit some chloris complex. Vocalizations may well seasonality in vocalizations for Pratt heard prove to be of great value in sorting out this only two songs during January 1978. This problem, but too little is known about the be- seasonality may account for the fact that 126 H. D. PRATT ET AL.

Marshall (1949), present in November, con- spicuous bird of the mangrove community sidered the bird “very abundant” in I945 at Palau. Although common in all types of while Baker (1951), who visited in Septem- forest, this flycatcher is abundant in man- ber, found it “not common” the same year. groves. Members of this monarchine genus We heard the greatest amount of vocaliza- have traditionally been called “broadbills” tion in June and July. On 20 April 1978 in Micronesia (Baker 1951, Owen 1977c). Engbring found a nest of this species on This epithet is unfortunate, not only be- Urukthapel. The nest was 2.5 m off the cause of confusion with the Eurylaimidae, ground in a small tree and was domed with but also because it cannot be applied to all an entrance in the side. The exterior was members of the genus (the Australian M. composed of coarse grasses and leaves, with ruficollis would become the Broad-billed the interior lined with feathers and fine Broadbill!). Rand and Gilliard (1967) used shredded material. The nest held one pur- the unwieldy “myiagra flycatcher” for the plish brown egg. The nest and egg agree group, and Edwards (1974) used the generic closely with those of the Japanese Bush- name as the vernacular. We believe the Warbler (Cettia &phone) as described by Australian practice of using the simple non- Austin and Kuroda (1952). committal term “flycatcher” (Slater 1974) is Baker (1951) outlined the taxonomic his- best. tory of the Palau Bush-Warbler, long clas- The Mangrove Flycatcher has two songs. sified in the endemic monotypic genus Psa- One is a series of four pure whistles on a mathia. He concluded, citing numerous level pitch: pee-pee-pee-peet. The second morphological similarities, that the genus is similar in quality but faster so that the was quite close to Cettia. When we first vis- notes run together. It descends in pitch and ited Palau we were immediately struck by consists of six to eight, usually seven, notes: the vocal similarity of Psamathia to Cettia peepeepeepeepeepeepee. At a distance this diphone, introduced to Oahu in Hawaii. song sounds like a single quavering whistle. Both species have a long penetrating whis- In one experiment, playback of the slower tle followed by several quicker notes, a sec- song elicited a fast song response of some ond more complex song, and marked sea- minutes duration. A second bird, possibly sonality in song frequency. Long paired with the first, joined in about mid- introductory whistles appear to be charac- way in the performance. After about eight teristic of many Cettia species (King and minutes the first individual resumed the Dickinson 1975). This vocal similarity, to- slow song and the other departed. The call gether with the morphological resem- or scold of the Mangrove Flycatcher is a blances and similarities of nests and eggs, low-pitched unmusical zhrick. One nest of argues against maintenance of Psamathia as this species on Arakabesan was placed on a genus distinct from Cettia. a horizontal branch and was constructed of Myiagra erythrops. Mangrove Flycatch- stems and shredded material held together er. This bird has long been considered a with spider web and decorated with lichens component subspecies of the Micronesian and mosses. Broadbill (M. oceanica; Baker 1951, Owen Rhipidura Zepida. Palau . This 1977c) even though Mayr (1945), who first bird, listed as endangered, was apparently proposed such an arrangement, stated that uncommon in the 1930s’ and 1940s’ (Baker the four forms could be treated either as 1951). The population appears now to have species or subspecies. Morony et al. (1975) increased, and we agree with Owen (1977a) considered them species. Our investiga- that the Palau Fantail has no place among tions have led us to conclude that the four the Endangered Species. It is one of the Myiagra in Micronesia represent more than more common birds in forests throughout one colonization. Marshall (1949) docu- the islands. We did not find it commonly in mented the differences between the Palau mangroves, however. On southern Babel- form and freycineti of Guam, and demon- thuap, where isolated pockets of forest re- strated that the two did not overlap or ap- main in ravines in the fire-maintained sa- proach each other in several characters. The vannah, each such grove harbored at least forms oceanica of Truk and Pluto of Ponape one pair of in January 1978. Occa- are even more divergent. To these morpho- sionally these birds moved into the sur- logical differences we can add striking vo- rounding scrub to forage. Fantails are now cal, ecological and behavioral distinctions. abundant on Peleliu where once they were No English names are available for these scarce (Baker 1951). One nest on that island four species, so we have coined our own. was essentially identical in construction to Myiagra erythrops may be the most con- nests of the Rufous-fronted Fantail (R. ruf- THE BIRDS OF PALAU 127 ifrons) we have seen elsewhere (Pratt et al. greater geographic variation in behavior 1977). It was a tightly woven cup placed in and vocalizations within the complex than a fork, like a teacup on a saucer, with a “tail” Mees (1969) documented for morphology. of nest material trailing below for several We therefore use the present classification centimeters. The nest held a single young advisedly, pending a more thorough analy- bird. sis of our data. Vocalizations of the Palau Fantail differ Bridled White-eyes at Palau are typical from those of the Rufous-fronted Fantail. Zosterops in their movements through the Single call notes are loud and squeaky with trees in small flocks gleaning food items a downward inflection: keee-up! and queeer. from foliage and branches. Contact notes Adults also utter a rhythmic kee-keer-kew are high-pitched and squeaky, and appar- (accented as the word “cockatoo”). The ently this bird has no true song. Lack song is an excited jumble of chirps and (1971:208-212) considered that size differ- squeaks like the sound of a heavy piece of ences alone are sufficient for ecological iso- furniture being rolled on wooden casters. It lation of this and the following species. The is similar to, but louder and lower pitched birds differ strikingly in bill length. We not- than the song of the Winter Wren (Troglo- ed no differences in distribution or foraging dytes troglodytes). behavior between the two and, indeed, Colluricincla tenebrosa. Morningbird. often found them feeding together in the This drab bird takes its name from its elab- same trees. The two white-eyes may not orate pre-dawn song, probably the most form true mixed flocks, however. Marshall pleasing of all Palau bird songs. The song is (1949) described the movements of two given in abbreviated form throughout the flocks, one of each species, that used the day. It has no striking pattern, but rather is an same foraging route, but did not interact and almost random series of liquid chirps and occasionally occurred together fortuitously. whistles. The call notes are decidedly un- Palau Bridled White-eyes are found in for- musical, harsh, and raspy. Morningbirds est, scrub, and forest edge and occasionally forage slowly and deliberately in the forest in low bushes in grasslands. They are com- understory, and often approach and silently mon but not as abundant as 2. cinereus, and follow a human intruder. They are solitary are found throughout the archipelago ex- skulkers, apparently taking food from trunks cept for Angaur. and branches of trees. We have not seen Zosterops cinereusfinchii.’ Dusky White- them gleaning leaves. Presumably these eye. This ubiquitous species may be the birds take both plant and food, but we most abundant bird at Palau, and is found have no hard data on food preferences. The in virtually every terrestrial habitat on all courtship display includes a peculiar exag- islands except Angaur. Flocks of Dusky gerated teetering by both members of a pair. White-eyes are noisy, constantly uttering a The Palau Morningbird has been placed nasal cheee, similar to the call of the Bridled in various genera and the matter is present- White-eye but louder and lower in pitch. In ly unresolved. We follow Baker (1951) and flight, and occasionally while perched, the Diamond (pers. comm.) in placing it in Col- birds utter a rollicking series of three or four Zuricincla rather than Pitohui. Unfortu- notes descending in pitch: chee-che-che- nately, we have no first-hand knowledge of thee with the first and last accented. This these New Guinea genera on which to base vocalization is reminiscent of, but louder comparisons. Behaviorally, the Morningbird and harsher than, the flight call of the Amer- resembles C. megarhyncha (= Myiolestes ican Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis). Engbring megarhynchus of Rand and Gilliard 1967) located a Dusky White-eye nest in low as described by Diamond (1972) but its dense roadside vegetation on Peleliu 11 vocalizations seem more like those he de- May 1978. Woven into the branching stem scribed for several species of Pitohui (Dia- of a morning glory (Operculina sp.), the in- mond 1972). Obviously, more data will be complete nest was 1 m off the ground. Both needed before the affinities of the Palau members of the pair participated in nest Morningbird can be accurately discerned. construction. The nest was built almost en- Zosterops conspicillatus semperi. Bridled tirely of fine strands of moss. As with the White-eye. This species is the smallest of previous species, the taxonomy of 2. cine- the three white-eyes of Palau, and the least reus has been based entirely on morphology aberrant. Despite the recent study by Mees (Mayr 1944) and may need to be reexam- (1969) we remain dissatisfied with the tax- ined. This form is presently considered con- onomy of the 2. conspicillatus complex specific with similarly colored birds at Po- (Pratt et al. 1977). We have found even nape (ponapensis) and Kosrae (cinerea), 128 H. D. PRATT ET AL. despite wide divergence in bill length Marshalls’ (1949) description of the bi- (Lack 1971) and a hiatus of 2,600 km be- zarre song of Megazosterops is excellent. tween Palau and Ponape. We believe closer Mees (1969), in trying to downplay the dis- attention to ecology and behavior will help tinctiveness of this bird among the Zoster- to clarify the evolutionary history of this opidae, overemphasized Marshalls’ (1949) complex. comparison of the song to that of two canar- Megazosterops palauensis. Giant White- ies singing together. The canary-like quality eye. On what basis this singular species is extends only to the fact that the song com- placed in the Zosteropidae we cannot say. prises whistles and trills. We would liken it Mees (1969) stated that Stresemann “found to two canary songs recorded at 33% being its true affinities” but Stresemann (1930) cit- played at 78 rpm, with an underlying rat- ed only the small size of the outermost pri- tling sound like that of several marbles mary as a reason for transferring this species being massaged in the hand. The song has from Cleptornis of the Meliphagidae to the a rather mechanical quality enhanced by Zosteropidae. We agree with Marshalls’ abrupt starts and stops. Call notes include (1949) statement that Megazosterops “does a rasping scheee and a dry rattle, the two not even suggest, let alone resemble, the often combined by flocks of Giant White- other species of white-eyes on these is- eyes into a harsh scolding chorus. When lands.” Probably only biochemical or ana- scolding, these birds hold the bill constant- tomical studies will reveal this species ’ ly open revealing the orange lining of the “true affinities.” We believe a close rela- mouth. They feed on caterpillars, other in- tionship between Megazosterops and Ru- sects, and fruits. kia, in which genus the former was placed Myzomela cardinalis kohayashii. Cardi- by Mayr (1967), is unlikely. nal . This species is common Reports of Megazosterops have conflicted and conspicuous in edges and forest open- on several points. For many years the ings, as well as flower gardens and other species was known only from Peleliu (Mayr man-associated habitats. Marshall (1949) ap- 1945, Marshall 1949, Baker 1951) although parently missed this birds’ true song, which Babelthuap was the type locality (Reichen- is sung only before dawn. The song is a ow 1915). However specimens were taken complex and pleasing series of whistles, on Urukthapel in 1950 (Mees 1969) and we very different from the burry or wheezy have seen it there, but not on other rock chirps and whistles uttered during the day. islands between Urukthapel and Peleliu. Its We noted a rather striking difference be- absence from Eil Malk is particularly enig- tween the dawn songs of Cardinal Honey- matic. Yamashina (1940) considered the eaters at Palau and (M. c. nigriven- bird very rare, but Marshall (1949) said it tris), which may mean that species limits in was “abundant” and Baker (1951) found it the M. cardinalis complex should be reex- “fairly common” on Peleliu in 1945. amined. In light of the birds’ present distribution Engbring found a Cardinal Honeyeater and numbers, we cannot account for its nest on 2 April 1978 about 2 m off the scarcity earlier in this century on islands ground in a lateral branch extending over a largely untouched by hostilities or agricul- sand beach. The nests’ structure was similar ture. Giant White-eyes are noisy, curious, to that described for the species at Truk conspicuous birds not likely to be over- (Brandt 1962) but the three nestlings ex- looked if present. They are today abundant ceeded the usual brood size (two) reported on Peleliu, and are fairly common on Uruk- there. thapel. Whereas Marshall (1949) and Baker Erythrura trichroa pelewensis. Blue-faced (1951) found the birds only in remaining Parrotfinch. Until 1976 this endemic sub- pockets of forest, we have seen them in a species had not been seen since the single wide variety of habitats including thickets type specimen was collected on Babelthuap of the scrubby exotic Leucaena growing (Owen 1977a) and had been thought possi- over abandoned World War II airfields. Fur- bly extinct (Owen, pers. comm.). On 26 thermore, we have frequently met with June 1976 Pratt, Bruner, and Berrett saw a flocks of up to eight Giant White-eyes de- flock of six Blue-faced Parrotfinches feeding spite reports by Marshall (1949) and Baker quietly among the foliage of tall trees on (1951) that the species does not form flocks. eastern Arakabesan. The birds ’ blue, green, In dense forests Megazosterops is mainly a and red coloration and finch bills were canopy bird, but it can also be found in the clearly evident. In January 1978 Pratt saw understory. a single individual in flight over a forested THE BIRDS OF PALAU 129 ridge on southern Babelthuap and noted the whistles and gurgling notes. The song is green body plumage and red rump and tail. merely an elaboration of these call notes On 3 July 1978 Pratt, Bruner, and Engbring with no constant pattern. Micronesian Star- found a total of six individuals south of lings nest in tree cavities. A small amount Urukthapel on three small rock islands with of nest material (grasses, leaves, bits of fern) extensive sandy beaches. Subsequently, is placed in the cavity. Two or three eggs, Engbring found them on most of the rock bluish speckled with purple and brown islands as well as Babelthuap, but in low about the larger end, comprise the clutch. numbers. Engbring has found nests from May to late Despite its bright colors, the Blue-faced September. Parrotlinch is an elusive and inconspicuous Artamus leucorhynchus pelewensis. bird. These tiny finches move slowly and White-breasted Woodswallow. This Endan- deliberately when foraging in the tops of gered Species has a peculiarly restricted tall trees, and their voice is only a high- distribution at Palau, being confined to the pitched metallic chirp, like the sound of upper savannahs of Babelthuap. These coins clicked together, and uttered most areas are characterized by poor, highly often as the birds fly away. This sound is eroded, red soils. Vegetation consists of easily missed at Palau where several insects grasses, pitcher plants (Nepenthes mirabi- make similar noises. Nevertheless, the calls Zis), false staghorn fern (Dicranopteris sp.) were the main cue to the birds ’ presence in and scattered Pandanus trees. Ravines in the most recent sightings. The bird is rare the savannahs are heavily forested. Fre- but widely distributed. It may also be no- quent fires produce many dead trees in the madic at Palau, to compound the difficulties edges of these forests and such snags are of census-takers. Its place on the TTPI list favored perching, nesting, and roosting sites of Endangered Species appears well justi- for the woodswallows. The birds occur only fied. in the more remote savannahs in the interior Lonchura malncca. Chestnut Mannikin. of the island and are inexplicably absent This exotic finch was apparently introduced from seemingly identical habitat in the to Palau in the late 1940s.’ Neither Marshall southern part of the island. Engbring esti- (1949) nor Baker (1951) reported it in 1945, mates that only a few hundred individuals and specimens were first taken in the is- exist. lands in 1950 (Ripley 1951). These birds are White-breasted Woodswallows occur at now abundant in the artificial grasslands of Palau in small groups of two to five birds. southern Babelthuap where they move They are highly social and exhibit no “in- through the fields in great hordes. They are dividual distance;” they nestle tightly also numerous in grassy places in urban and against each other when perched. They suburban parts of the Koror complex. Man- feed aerially on large insects, either in con- nikins do not appear to compete in any way tinuous flight or by sallying from a perch. with native birds, and indeed are totally ab- The birds are not wary and allow close ap- sent from undisturbed habitats. Apparently, proach. this species has completely displaced the Engbring found a woodswallow nest on Nutmeg Mannikin (L. pun&data), once es- 15 June 1978. It was a bowl of fine grasses tablished at Palau (Marshall 1949, Baker exposed on a lateral dead branch about 6 m 1951). Both species were taken on Koror in up in a large spreading tree (Callophyllum 1950 (Ripley 1951) but L. punctulata has inophyllum) growing along the edge of a not been reported since (Owen, pers. Savannah. Two fledglings, with only a trace comm.). of down remaining, perched in or near the Aplonis opaca orii. Micronesian Starling. nest. They were sometimes shielded from Baker (1951) considered this bird the most the sun by the parents. Several adults in ad- abundant at Palau. Starlings are still very dition to the parents perched nearby in the common today, but we have not noted them tree, but whether they participated in feed- in such large flocks (12-50 birds) as record- ing the young could not be determined. ed by Marshall (1949). Micronesian Star- lings occur in virtually all land habitats. SEABIRDS They are gregarious at times but also move Several widespread tropical seabirds in ad- about singly or in pairs. Many small flocks dition to Audubons’ Shearwater previously in June and July appeared to be family discussed are common to abundant at Palau. groups. Vocalizations of these starlings are Brown Noddies (Anous stolidus) and Fairy highly varied, consisting of loud slurred Terns (Gygis alba) nest in forest trees 130 H. D. PRATT ET AL. throughout the archipelago, often quite far LITERATURE CITED inland. White-tailed Tropicbirds (Phaethon AUSTIN, 0. L., JR., AND N. KURODA. 1952. The birds Zepturus) also nest in or beneath trees, of Japan, their status and distribution. Bull. Mus. sometimes far inland. Huge concentrations Comp. Zoo]., No. 109. of Black Noddies (A. minutus) occur among BAKER, R. H. 1946. Some effects of the war on the the rock islands where the birds nest in wildlife of Micronesia. Trans. N. Am. Wildl. Conf. 11:205-213. trees overhanging lagoons. Rocky cliffs at BAKER, R. H. 1951. The avifauna of Micronesia, its Palau are used extensively for nesting and origin, evolution, and distribution. Univ. Kans. resting by Bridled (Sterna anaethetus) and Publ. Mus. Nat. Hist. 3:1-359. Black-naped (S. sumutrunu) terns, while BRANDT, J. H. 1962. Nests and eggs of the birds of the Truk Islands. Condor 64:416437. Great Crested Terns (Thulusseus bergii) are BROOKE, R. K. 1972. Generic limits in Old World most likely to be seen on sandbars or chan- Apodidae and Hirundinidae. Bull. Br. Ornithol. nel markers. The latter species nests at Pa- Club 92:52-57. lau only on one islet of Kayangel Atoll. BROWER, K. 1974. With their islands around them. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York. CONSERVATION BRUNER. P. L. 1972. Field guide to the birds of French Polynesia. Pacific %cientific Information The avifauna of Palau appears to have most- Center, B. P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu. ly recovered from the disturbance of World DIAMOND, J. M. 1972. Avifauna of the eastern high- War II. Of the eight species listed as endan- lands of New Guinea. Publ. Nuttall Ornithol. Club 12. gered, at least two (Pyrrhogluux podurginu, EDWARDS, E. P. 1974. A coded list of the birds of the and Rhipiduru Zepidu) probably should be world. E. P. Edwards, Sweet Briar, Va. deleted from the lists, and perhaps also ENGBRING, J. 1977. Ornithological field report, An- Megupodius laperouse senex. On the other gaur. Unpubl. report, Office of the Chief Conser- vationist, Koror, Palau. hand, four unlisted species (Rullinu euri- ENGBRING, J. 1978. Peleliu bird survey. Unpubl. re- zonoides, Gullinulu chloropus, Porphyrio port, Office of the Chief Conservationist, Koror, porphyrio pelewensis, and possibly Cupri- Palau. mulgus indicus) may qualify for such des- FORSHAW, J. M. 1973. Parrots of the world. Double- ignation. The outlook for most land birds is day, Garden City, New York. GOODWIN, D. 1977. Pigeons and doves of the world. encouraging because of the extent of the Cornell Univ. Press, Ithaca, N.Y. rock islands which form a de facto wildlife GOSNELL, M. 1976. The island dilemma. Int. Wild]. sanctuary. These islands are highly scenic 6(5):24-35. and in their present state are one of Palaus’ GREENWAY, J. C., JR. 1967. Extinct and vanishing birds of the world. Second ed. Dover Publ., New most important long-term assets. The poten- York. tial for nondestructive uses, such as tourism, GRESSITT, J. L. 1954. Insects of Micronesia. Vol. 1. B. is great. P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu. Palaus’ legislators have shown consider- KING, B. F., AND E. C. DICKINSON. 1975. A field guide able enlightenment in passing laws for the to the birds of South-east Asia. Houghton Mifllin Co., Boston. protection of birds, but enforcement is gen- LACK, D. 1971. Ecological isolation in birds. Harvard erally limited. We hope that legislation to Univ. Press, Cambridge, Mass. allow the taking of controlled numbers of MARSHALL, J. T., JR. 1949. The endemic avifauna of scientific specimens under permit will be Saipan, Tinian, Guam, and Palau. Condor 51:200- 221. enacted, and that enforcement of existing MAYR, E. 1944. Birds collected during the Whitney laws at the local level will improve. South Sea Expedition. 54. Notes on some genera We are optimistic that as Palau enters an from the Southwest Pacific. Am. Mus. Novit. 1269. era of political change, environmental con- MAYR, E. 1945. Birds of the Southwest Pacific. Mac- cerns will not be disregarded in favor of millan Co., New York. MAYR, E. 1967. Zosteropidae (Indo-Australian taxa), short-term economic gain. p. 289-326. In R. A. Paynter, Jr. (ed.), Check-list of birds of the World. Vol. 12. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS MEDWAY, L. 1975. The nest of Collocalia z;. vaniko- rensis, and taxonomic implications. Emu 75: 154- Berrett, Bruner, and Pratt received support in 1976 155. from Brigham Young University Hawaii Campus. In MEDWAY, L., AND j. D. PYE. 1977. Echolocation and 1978, Pratt and Bruner were supported in part by systematics of swiftlets, p. 225-238. In B. Stone- grants from the Frank M. Chapman Memorial Fund house and C. M. Perrins (eds.).., Evolutionary ecol- and Louisiana State University Museum of Zoology. ogy. Univ. Park Press, Baltimore. Engbrings’ work has been considerably enhanced by MEES, G. F. 1969. A systematic review of the Indo- assistance provided by the National Audubon Society. Australian Zosteropidae (Part 3). Zool. Verh. Rijks- We are grateful to Robert P. Owen and his staff for mus Nat. Hist. Leiden 102:1-390. assistance and valuable discussions. Owen, J. V. Rem- MORONY, J. J., W. J. BOCK, AND J. FARRAND, JR. sen, J. M. Diamond, and E. Mayr made helpful sug- 1975. Reference list of the birds of the world. gestions on the manuscript. American Museum of Natural History, New York. THE BIRDS OF PALAU 131

OWEN, R. P. 1977a. Terrestrial vertebrate fauna of the RAND, A. L., AND E. T. GILLIARD. 1967. Handbook of Palau Islands. Office of the Chief Conservationist, New Guinea birds. Weidenfeld and Nicolson, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Koror, Palau. London. Unpublished report. REJCHENOW, A. 1915. Neue Arten. J. Ornithol. OWEN, R. P. 197713. New bird records of Micronesia 63:124-129. and major island groups in Micronesia. Microne- RIPLEY, S. D. 1951. Migrants and introduced species sica 13:57-63. in the Palau Archipelago. Condor 53:299-300. OWEN, R. P. 1977c. A checklist of the birds of Micro- SLATER, P. 1974. A field guide to Australian birds: nesia. Micronesica 13:65-81. . Livingston &bl. Co., Wynnewood, Pa. PRATT, H. D., AND P. L. BRUNER. 1978. Micronesian STRESEMANN, E. 1930. Megazosterops novum genus Megapode rediscovered on Saipan. Elepaio 39:57- zosteropidarum. Ornithol. Monatsber. 38: 159. 59. YAMASHINA, Y. 1940. Some additions to the “List of PRATT, H. D., AND P. L. BRUNER. In press. Notewor- the birds of Micronesia.” Tori 10:673-679. thy records of non-breeding birds in Micronesia. Micronesica. Museum of Zoology, Louisiana State University, Baton PRATT. H. D.. P. L. BRUNER. AND D. G. BERRETT. Rouge, Louisiana 70893. Address of second author: 19?7. Ornithological obs&vations on Yap, West- Peace Corps Ornithologist, Biology Laboratory, Koror, ern . Micronesica 13:49-56. Palau, Caroline Islands 96940; present address: Route PRATT, H. D., P. L. BRUNER, AND D. G. BERRETT. 2, Box 157, Waterloo, Illinois 62298. Address of third 1979. Americas’ unknown avifauna: the birds of author: Division of Mathematics, Natural Sciences the Mariana Islands. Am. Birds 33:227-235. and Technology, Brigham Young University Hawaii RALPH, C. J., AND H. F. SAKAI. 1979. Forest bird and Campus, Laie, Hawaii 96762. Address of fourth au- fruit bat populations and their conservation in Mi- thor: Route 2, Box 1150, Rexburg, Idaho 83440. Ac- cronesia: notes on a survey. Elepaio 40:20-26. cepted for publication 31 August 1979.

Condor, 82: 131 @ The Cooper Ornithological Society 1980

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Birds of Colorados’ Gunnison Country.-A. Sidney provided for several kinds of data: life list, seasonal Hyde. 1979. The Western State College Foundation. status, year lists, geographic lists, etc. The system ap- 140 p. Paper cover. $6.95. Source: W.S.C.F., 120 North pears to be comprehensive, versatile, and workable. It Boulevard, Gunnison, Colorado 81230. Gunnison certainly seems more useful than that designed by Country (essentially the same as the county of the same Drennan (1979. Noted in Condor 81:375). The seven- name) lies in the Rocky Mountains in southwestern ring vinyl binder is sturdy and additional blank pages Colorado. This book is a review of its birds, combining are available. Even birders who have not hitherto kept aspects of an annotated checklist and a field guide. The track of their records will be tempted to fill in the species accounts report the status, unusual records, and blanks. Index. places where the bird can be found. They also give field marks and brief remarks about the voice and hab- its. Identification keys are provided for fringillids and The Birds of Ecuador and the Galapagos Archipel- warblers in spring plumage. The book is illustrated ago.-Thomas Y. Butler. 1979. The Ramphastos Agen- with eight color plates and many pen-and-ink drawings cy, P.O. Box 1091, Portsmouth, N.H. 80 p. Paper cover. by Donald Radovich. A fold-out sketch map shows the $6.25. Most of this booklet is devoted to a checklist of nesting areas of many species. List of references; in- the birds of mainland Ecuador. It is based on Meyer dex. de Schauensees’ A Guide to the Birds of South Amer- ica (1970. Livingston), augmented with recent records by many observers. Symbols on the list show for every Combination List and Checklist for Birds of North species its status in several habitat zones and a refer- America.-James A. Tucker. 1979. River City Publish- ence to a published illustration or sound recording. inr! Co. At least 32 D. Loose-leaf binder. $15.00 plus The introduction nives brief instructions for findine $1750 postage. Source: River City Publishing Co., P.0. good birding places. A checklist for the birds of the Box 4471, Austin, TX 78765. This is a notebook in Galapagos shows their status on each of the major is- which to keep personal records of species of birds seen lands. This booklet may be useful to birders in main- in North America. All the species that have occurred land Ecuador, for which no field guide exists. It will here are listed on the left side of a series of pages. be of little use, however, for birders in the Galapagos Blanks to the right and on interleaved half-pages are who have Harriss’ (1974. Collins) guide.