Journal of Life Sciences 6 (2012) 454-459 A Review of Recent Knowledge on Raptor Species in Sumatra, Indonesia Hilda Zulkifli1, Muhammad Iqbal2, Adam A. Supriatna3 and Agus Nurza4 1. Department of Biology, Sriwijaya University, Indralaya 30662, Indonesia 2. Kelompok Pengamat Burung Spirit of South Sumatra, Palembang 30152, Indonesia 3. Indonesian Ornithologists’ Union (IdOU), Bogor 16001, Indonesia 4. Cicem Nangroe, Banda Aceh 23111, Indonesia Received: November 22, 2011/Accepted: January 13, 2012/Published: May 30, 2012. Abstract: A review of recent knowledge on raptor species in Sumatra (Indonesia) is discussed here. It summarized 34 raptor species recently known from Sumatra, updating previous 32 species. A total of 19 species was recorded resident in Sumatra, eight endemic subspecies, and 18 migratory species. The resident raptors in Sumatra have different breeding seasons. There are three raptors breeding in dry season, three between dry to rainy season, two raptors in rainy season and five raptors breeding between rainy to dry season. Most raptors in Sumatra breeds between rainy to dry season, consistent with major period of breeding season of bird in Sumatra. Four species have been listed as vulnerable and near threatened by IUCN. All Indonesian raptors have been protected by the Indonesian law. Therefore, this information will provide more significant recent knowledge of the raptor species in Sumatra to be used for updating the conservation status and preparing long term monitoring activities to support the conservation of Sumatran tropical forests. Key words: Review, recent, raptor, Sumatra, Indonesia. 1. Introduction pass through a number of sites along Rupat Island as they migrate south into Java [5-7]. Sumatra is the westernmost and the second largest Indonesia has 70 species of raptors, and from that island in Indonesia. It is known to be rich in number 32 species occur in Sumatra [8]. This paper biodiversity. This great wealth is due to the large size has summarised 34 raptors species recently known of Sumatra, its diversity of habitats, and also its past from Sumatra and added two new species for the links with the Asian mainland [1]. With such varied island, Himalayan Griffon and Common Buzzard geography and vegetation zones, it is not surprising [9-11]. The purpose of this paper is twofold. Firstly, that the region holds nearly 11% of the world’s raptor the authors will present the more significant recent species [2] as well as a mind-boggling list of endemic records of raptor species compiled from available raptor subspecies of many region’s forested islands references in Sumatra. Second, we explore recent [2-4]. Furthermore, it is also worth nothing that the knowledge raptor species in Sumatra that we can use region falls along a number of major fly-ways for to prepare long term monitoring activities to support raptors migrating between Northeast Asia and the conservation of Sumatran tropical forests. Southeast Asia in the boreal winter. For example, every autumn, thousands of honey-buzzards would 2. Materials and Methods This paper presents recent references related to Corresponding author: Hilda Zulkifli., Ph.D., research raptors in Sumatra (Fig 1). Few unconfirmed sight field: ecology. E-mail: [email protected]. 2 A Review of Recent Knowledge on Raptor Species in Sumatra, Indonesia Fig. 1 Map of Sumatra Island. records were reported to Sumatra. However, we put meaningful to raise some subspecies to species level only valid species in Table 1. A total of 34 raptor [18]. For taxonomic reason, we still follow recent species recorded in Sumatra. This is a significant Indonesian Bird Checklist No. 2 for English and references for Sumatran raptor after two previously scientific names [8]. Conservation status covering reports on Sumatra raptor in “Birds of Sumatra” [4] global threatened species follows recent International and “Sumatra bird report” [12], with additional recent Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Redlist breeding records [13-16]. 2011 [19], Convention on International Trade in Bird taxonomy is currently undergoing a molecular Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) overhaul, as advance molecular methods become more [20], and national protection is under the law of easily available for phylogeny-based studies. Many Indonesian [21]. species of raptors Sumatra have not escaped the taxonomic revolution that has overtaken classical 3. Results and Discussion morphology-based taxonomy. The formerly 3.1 Raptors Diversity pantropical genus Spizaetus, with its seven to 15 members species, is found to be not closely related, Table 1 shows that 34 species of raptors occur in and had its Asian members reassigned to their original Sumatra. Two species have been added for Sumatran genus Nisaetus, after these were found to be distantly raptor list: Himalayan Griffon and Common Buzard. related to the neotropical hawk eagles, as was Himalayan Griffon was reported in December 2007 on previously thought [17]. Recent studies of the Asian Bintan Island, Sumatra. The bird was caught by local hawk eagles have found considerable intraspecific people when attempting to feed on carcasses at a local variation and polyphyly that it may be more pig farm [9]. Common Buzard is accidental visitor A Review of Recent Knowledge on Raptor Species in Sumatra, Indonesia 3 Table 1 List of raptor species, subspecies, status, conservation status and remarks on its breeding records in Sumatra. Conservati No Common & scientific name Subspecies Status Remarks on breeding records on status 01 Osprey Pandion haliaetus P. h. cristatus M PI, Ap II Migrant Himalayan Griffon Gyps 02 - M PI, Ap II Migrant himalayensis Possible breeding activity Jerdon’s Baza Aviceda recorded in August. Nesting 03 A. j. jerdoni R PI, Ap II jerdoni cycle assuming between August to November. Black Baza Aviceda 04 A. l. syama M PI, Ap II Migrant leuphotes Resident P. p. torquatus and Migrant No breeding record available for Crested Honey Buzzard 05 P. p. orientalis. R+M PI, Ap II resident subspecies P. p. Pernis ptilorhynchus torquatus. Breedings were recorded Bat Hawk Macheiramphus between April to September 06 M. a. alcinus. R PI, Ap II alcinus (attended nest, eggs collected and incubating female). Breedings were observed twice in August at two different locations (pair copulating, Black-winged Kite Elanus 07 E. c. hypoleucos. R PI, Ap II carrying nesting material and caeruleus attending nest). Nesting cycle assumed to occur between August to November. 08 Black Kite Milvus migrans M. m. lineatus M PI, Ap II Migrant Breeding were recorded Brahminy Kite Haliastur 09 H. i. intermedius. R PI, Ap II between January to May (egg Indus collected & fledglings). Breedings were recorded in White-bellied Sea-eagle September to March (eggs 10 - R PI, Ap II Haliaetus leucogaster collected and nearly full-grown immature on nest). Lesser Fish Eagle NT, PI, Ap Breeding was recorded but 11 I. h. Humilis R Ichthyophaga humilis II without detail date of record. Two breeding records, nest Grey-headed Fish Eagle NT, PI, Ap 12 R building in April and bird on Ichthyophaga ichtyhaetus II nest in September. Six subspecies occur and four endemic S. c. abboti (endemic on Simeuleu), S. Breedings were recorded c. asturinus (endemic on Nias), S. c. between February to April Crested Serpent Eagle batu (endemic on Batu Island) and S. c. 13 R PI, Ap II (incubated egg). Nesting cycle Spilornis cheela sipora (endemic on Mentawai Island). assumed to occur between Two other subspecies S. c. malayensis January to May. and S. c. natunensis. Pied Harrier Circus 14 - M PI, Ap II Migrant melanoleucos Western Marsh Harrier 15 C. a. aeruginosus M PI, Ap II Migrant Circus aeruginosus Eastern Marsh Harrier Circus 16 - M PI, Ap II Migrant spilonotus Breeding was recorded where Resident A. t. trivirgatus (endemic on Crested Goshawk Accipiter nest built in January. Nesting 17 the mainland) and A. t. niasensis R PI, Ap II trivirgatus cycle assumed to occur between (endemic on Nias). January to May. Only single breeding record from Aceh between January to 18 Shikra Accipiter badius A. b. poliopsis R PI, Ap II May (building nest until success fledgling). 4 A Review of Recent Knowledge on Raptor Species in Sumatra, Indonesia (Table 1 continued) Conservati No Common & scientific name Subspecies Status Remarks on breeding records on status Chinese Sparrowhawk 19 - M PI, Ap II Migrant Accipiter soloensis Japanese Sparrowhawk possible both of A. g. gularis and A. g. 20 M PI, Ap II Migrant Accipiter gularis sibiricus. Only one breeding record of A. v. vanbemmeli. almost full-grown young in 21 Besra Accipiter virgatus R PI, Ap II April. Nesting cycle assumed to occur between January to May. Grey-faced Buzzard Butastur 22 - M PI, Ap II Migrant indicus Common Buzzard Buteo 23 B. b. vulpinus M PI, Ap II Migrant buteo Black Eagle Ictinaetus Resident but no breeding 24 - R PI, Ap II malayensis record. Greater Spotted Eagle VU, PI, Ap 25 - M Migrant Aquilla clanga II Booted Eagle Hieraetus 26 - M PI, Ap II Migrant pennatus Breedings were recently fledged Rufous-bellied Eagle 27 H. k. formosus R PI, Ap II and young juvenile between Hieraaetus kienerii July to November. Resident S. c. limnaetus throughout the Breedings were recorded on Crested Hawk-eagle mainland, and S. c. vanheurni endemic 28 R PI, Ap II October to January (eggs and Spizaetus cirrhatus on Simeuleu. downy young collected). Blyth’s Hawk-Eagle 29 - R PI, Ap II No breeding record Spizaetus alboniger Wallace’s Hawk-Eagle S. n. nanus throughout the mainland, VU, PI, Ap 30 R No breeding record Spizaetus nanus and S. n. stresemanni endemic on Nias. II Breeding recorded between March to May (Nesting and egg Black-thighed Falconet collected). Family with fledged 31 - R PI, Ap II Microchierax fringgilarius young, without date record. Nesting cycle assumed to occur between February to June.