Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report - IUCN

Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report
life surveys, but incidental observations suggest that they
are now scarce in agricultural land. Active capture with
nets occurs (TDE) and they may also be snared.
• Formulation of protective measures if needed.
Picidae: Woodpeckers (26 species)
Jynx torquilla Eurasian Wryneck. Passage migrant and winter
visitor; north B2 , centre (historically B22 ), south (A. J. Stones
in litt. 1999). Secondary growth, cultivation and open deciduous
forest.
Picumnus innominatus Speckled Piculet. Resident; north B9 ,
centre B10 , south B2 . Evergreen forests and adjacent tall secondary
growth, up to at least 1400 m, rare in extreme lowlands.
Sasia ochracea White-browed Piculet. Resident; north, centre,
south B2 . Evergreen forest and secondary growth, especially
in areas with mid-storey bamboo; mostly lowlands and
foothills, but up to at least 1480 m.
Dendrocopos canicapillus (= Picoides canicapillus, ^K, ^T)
Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker (= Grey-capped Woodpecker,
^K, ^T). Resident; north B9 , centre B10 , south B2 . Open
deciduous forest, especially dry dipterocarp. Also in hill and
mountain evergreen forest (including degraded areas), up to
at least 1700 m.
• Dendrocopos macei (= Picoides macei, ^K, ^T) Fulvousbreasted
Woodpecker. Conservation Significance: Little
Known in Lao PDR. Documented Range and Habitat: Resident;
centre B17 , south B11 . Recent records come from dry
dipterocarp forest (south) and mixed deciduous woodland
(centre) in the lowlands; one historical record comes from
the Bolaven Plateau (presumably at about 1000-1200 m).
Status Information: Two singles were seen in Dong
Khanthung PNBCA and one in Hin Namno NBCA, all in
1998 (Round 1998, Walston in prep.). Although Timmins et
al. (1993) gave a provisional record from Xe Pian NBCA,
this was retracted in Thewlis et al. (1996). Historically the
species was known from two records from Savannakhet town
(one a specimen; David-Beaulieu 1949-1950) and one from
the Bolaven Plateau (Dickinson 1970a). The species is categorised
as Little Known in Lao PDR because of the paucity
of records and lack of clarity over habitat use. There are many
areas superficially similar to those inhabited by the species
in which it has not been recorded.
Dendrocopos atratus (= Picoides atratus, ^K, ^T) Stripebreasted
Woodpecker. Resident; north B4 , centre B10 , south B2 .
Evergreen forest, including fragmented areas and adjacent
open areas, generally above 600 m and up to at least 1880 m.
96
• Dendrocopos mahrattensis (= Picoides mahrattensis, ^K,
^T) Yellow-crowned Woodpecker. Conservation Significance:
At Risk in Lao PDR. Documented Range and Habitat:
Resident; south B11 . Lowland dry dipterocarp forest. Status
Information: The first location record for Lao PDR came
from Dong Khanthung PNBCA on 28 July 1998, when two
birds were seen together (Round 1998). The only historical
record stated to be from Lao PDR is from ‘Kouys’, which
appears to be in modern-day Cambodia (see D. hyperythrus,
Appendix). The Dong Khanthung area faces a variety of
threats (Round 1998) and until it is declared and managed as
an NBCA this species is best considered At Risk in Lao PDR.
Dendrocopos cathpharius (= Picoides cathpharius, ^K, ^T)
Crimson-breasted Woodpecker. Resident; north B8 . Evergreen
forest above 1400 m. Records prior to 1997 were
reviewed by Thewlis et al. (1998) who categorised the species
as Little Known in Lao PDR. There are historical records
from two montane areas of Xiangkhouang Province (David-
Beaulieu 1944). Recent records come also from the montane
north (Nam Ha and Phou Louey NBCAs; Tizard et al. 1997,
Davidson 1998). The species is probably scattered across the
montane forests of northern Lao PDR and need no longer be
considered Little Known.
• Dendrocopos major (= Picoides major, ^K) Great Spotted
Woodpecker. Conservation Significance: Little Known in
Lao PDR. Documented Range and Habitat: Resident; north
(historically B21 ). Pine forests over 1000 m. Status Information:
The species has been recorded only from Xiangkhouang
Province, where it was fairly common above 1000 m (David-
Beaulieu 1944). The lack of recent records indicates that the
species should be considered Little Known in Lao PDR.
Celeus brachyurus (= Micropternus brachyurus, ^K) Rufous
Woodpecker. Resident; north B1 , centre, south B2 . Evergreen
and deciduous forest and secondary growth, generally below
750 m.
• Dryocopus javensis White-bellied Woodpecker. Conservation
Significance: Potentially At Risk in Lao PDR. Documented
Range and Habitat: Resident; centre (historically B22 ),
south B14 . Open mixed deciduous forest in association with
denser forest patches, particularly evergreen riverine strips,
and dry dipterocarp forest; below 300 m. Status Information:
Records prior to 1997 were reviewed by Thewlis et al.
(1998). The species has been found in six survey areas (Table
11). Historically it was recorded widely in the south
(Engelbach 1932) and was fairly frequent in Savannakhet
Province (David-Beaulieu 1949-1950). However, it seems
to use a narrow range of habitats in Lao PDR. In most areas
it is known only by a few records; only in Xe Pian was it
assessed to be locally common. This low density, together
with the lack of records from other areas containing open