Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report - IUCN

Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report
Hierococcyx sparverioides (= Cuculus sparverioides, ^K,
^Sm, ^T) Large Hawk Cuckoo. Breeder, at least locally,
seasonal status unclear; north, centre B2 , south B10 . Evergreen
and deciduous forests, especially more open stands and
secondary growth, up to at least 1700 m; at least in nonbreeding
season, occurs down to 80 m.
• Hierococcyx vagans (= Cuculus vagans, ^K, ^Sm, ^T)
Moustached Hawk Cuckoo. Conservation Significance:
Little Known in Lao PDR. Documented Range and Habitat:
Presumed resident; south B2 . Lowland semi-evergreen forest,
bamboo and tall secondary growth. Status Information:
Known in Lao PDR from three records: singles in Xe Pian
NBCA in December 1992 and January 1993 (Thewlis et al.
1996, Duckworth 1996c) and (calling, perhaps suggesting
breeding) in July 1998 in Dong Khanthung PNBCA (Round
1998). On current knowledge the species has a very limited
range and is confined to a habitat that may contract substantially.
Hierococcyx fugax (= Cuculus fugax, ^K, ^Sm, ^T)
Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoo. Presumed breeder, seasonal status
unclear; north B9 , centre B7 , south B2 . Evergreen and mixed
deciduous forests, secondary growth, probably mainly at 500-
1450 m; also down to 100 m. First recorded in 1993 (Thewlis
et al. 1996).
Cuculus micropterus Indian Cuckoo. Breeder, seasonal status
unclear; north, centre, south B2 . Deciduous and evergreen
forests and secondary growth; up to at least 1600 m.
Cuculus canorus Eurasian Cuckoo (= Common Cuckoo,
^K, ^Sm, ^T). Seasonal status unclear, presumed to breed;
north (historically B21 ). Habitat use in Lao PDR unknown.
Difficulties of field separation of silent birds from Oriental
Cuckoo mean that the species may be overlooked; all Lao
records traced by David-Beaulieu (1944) were during April
and May, and all his personal encounters were with singing
birds, which suggests that the species breeds in at least
Xiangkhouang Province. A few silent individuals seen since
1991 have been suspected to be this species.
Cuculus saturatus Oriental Cuckoo. Seasonal status unclear,
presumed to breed; north B9 , centre B10 . Evergreen forest at 800-
1800 m. First recorded in 1994 (Evans and Timmins 1998).
Cuculus poliocephalus Lesser Cuckoo. Seasonal status unclear,
presumed to breed; north B9 . Evergreen forests and secondary
growth above 1450 m. First recorded for Lao PDR in
1995, in Phou Dendin NBCA (Duckworth et al. 1998a).
Cacomantis sonneratii Banded Bay Cuckoo. Presumed resident;
north, centre, south B2 . Evergreen and deciduous forests,
scrub and secondary growth particularly along rivers;
up to at least 1200 m.
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Cacomantis merulinus Plaintive Cuckoo. Resident; north,
centre, south B2 . Secondary growth, scrub, cultivation, gardens;
natural habitats occupied at high density are scrub in
river channel islands and vegetated limestone karst. Occurs
up to at least 1050 m.
Chrysococcyx maculatus Asian Emerald Cuckoo. Seasonal
status unclear but probably breeds; north B2 , centre B10 , south B2 .
Evergreen forests, sometimes secondary growth and scrub;
up to at least 1500 m.
Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus Violet Cuckoo. Seasonal
status unclear; north B2 , centre B17 , south B2 . Evergreen forest,
including degraded and edge areas; chiefly lowlands and hills.
Records prior to 1994 were reviewed by Thewlis et al. (1996).
Surniculus lugubris Drongo Cuckoo. Breeder, seasonal
status unclear; north, centre, south B2 . Forests and tall dense
secondary growth up to at least 1120 m.
Eudynamys scolopacea Asian Koel (= Common Koel, ^K,
^T). Breeder, seasonal status unclear; north, centre, south B2 .
Open deciduous forest and secondary growth at lower altitudes.
It is a brood parasite upon Large-billed Crows and is
doubtless limited by their low numbers.
Phaenicophaeus tristis Green-billed Malkoha. Resident;
north B1 , centre, south B2 . Forests (mainly evergreen) and tall
dense secondary growth, up to at least 1350 m.
• Carpococcyx renauldi Coral-billed Ground Cuckoo.
Conservation Significance: Globally Near-Threatened; endemic
to Indochina and parts of Thailand. Not At Risk in
Lao PDR. Documented Range and Habitat: Resident; north,
centre, south B14 . Mainly in evergreen forests and mature tall
regrowth, mainly below 1000 m, exceptionally up to 1500
m. Status Information: Records prior to 1997 were reviewed
by Thewlis et al. (1998). Historical records come widely from
south and central Lao PDR, but are few. The species has been
recorded in 11 recent survey areas (Table 11), and was assessed
as common in several, notably the Nakai Plateau.
Calling in the species is strongly seasonal and (resulting from
its shy nature) detecting the species visually is difficult: thus,
areas surveyed outside the main calling period may hold unsuspected
large populations. Coral-billed Ground Cuckoos
are caught in snares set for ground birds and are eaten
(Thewlis et al. 1998). One captive was observed being transported
to either Savannakhet or Vientiane from Salavan airport
(Salter 1993a).
Conservation Management and Research Proposed for
Cuckoos:
• Cessation of snaring in protected areas, to remove the
major threat to Coral-billed Ground Cuckoo.