Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report - IUCN

(including heavily fragmented areas) largely below 650 m.
Records prior to 1997 were reviewed by Thewlis et al. (1998).
It was dropped from the recommended list of key species in
view of its apparently secure status: birds were heard in most
areas with substantial nocturnal survey work at suitable altitude.
The species was first recorded for Lao PDR in 1993.
All records are based on calls heard. Early records were provisional
as no surveyor was experienced at identifying calls
of frogmouths to species. In 1997 and 1998, two observers
with considerable previous experience affirmed the identification
(JAW, PDR).
Eurostopodidae: Eared nightjars (1 species)
Eurostopodus macrotis Great Eared Nightjar. Resident;
north B1 , centre, south B2 . Forests, secondary growth, scrub and
cultivation below 600 m.
Caprimulgidae: Typical nightjars (4 species)
Caprimulgus indicus Grey Nightjar. Seasonal status unclear;
north B2 , centre B17 , south B5 . Open forest, scrub, across a wide
altitudinal range. Records prior to 1997 were reviewed by
Evans et al. (in prep. a). A bird in Hin Namno in late February
1998 was calling (DAS), suggesting the possibility of
breeding; winter visitors are also likely to occur.
Caprimulgus macrurus Large-tailed Nightjar. Resident;
north B9 , centre, south B2 . Open wooded areas, scrub and cultivation,
mostly below 650 m.
Caprimulgus asiaticus Indian Nightjar. Resident; north
(Robson 1997b), south B11 . Open deciduous forest, scrub and
cultivation. Delacour and Jabouille (1940) indicate central
Lao PDR within the range of the species, but we have not
traced a primary record.
Caprimulgus affinis Savanna Nightjar. Resident; north
(RJTiz), centre (historically B22 ), south B2 . Open deciduous
forest, rocky savanna. The record from Houay Nhang NR in
1995 listed as provisional in Duckworth et al. (1998a) has
been confirmed (RJTiz). With few recent records, the species’s
conservation status should be reconsidered at regular
intervals.
Columbidae: Pigeons, doves (19-21 species)
[Columba livia Rock Pigeon]. Introduced resident, viability
of feral populations unclear; north B2 , centre (JWD), south B2 .
Towns and the neighbourhood of large villages. Domestic
birds are common. There does not yet seem to be any docu-
Birds
mentation of feral populations or even any record of wild
breeding. The level of harvesting of medium-sized birds in
inhabited areas perhaps makes it unlikely that feral
populations are established.
Columba hodgsonii Speckled Wood Pigeon. Presumed winter
visitor; north B6 . Sole Lao record was in evergreen forest
at 1350 m, in February 1997 in Nam Ha NBCA (Tizard et al.
1997).
• Columba pulchricollis Ashy Wood Pigeon. Conservation
Significance: Little Known in Lao PDR. Documented Range
and Habitat: Presumed resident; north (TDE). Presumed to
inhabit montane forest. Status Information: Sole Lao record
was of a freshly-killed bird in Ban Phonsavan market
(Xiangkhouang Province) in February 1999 (TDE). If the
species is indeed resident, as a large edible bird in north Lao
PDR it is likely to be hunted heavily and it is therefore categorised
as Little Known in Lao PDR.
• Columba punicea Pale-capped Pigeon. Conservation
Significance: Globally Threatened - Vulnerable; Little Known
in Lao PDR. Documented Range and Habitat: Seasonal status
unclear, but probably resident subject to local movements;
north B14 , south B14 . Forest including open deciduous areas and
secondary growth; records from 300 to 850 m. Status Information:
Records prior to 1997 were reviewed by Thewlis et
al. (1998); there are recent records of small flocks from two
areas showing no obvious similarity (evergreen forest in Nam
Kading NBCA and open bushy savanna on the Bolaven
Plateau) and historical records from the Bolaven Plateau
(Engelbach 1927, 1932).
Streptopelia orientalis Oriental Turtle Dove. Seasonal status
unclear, breeds in at least north, with numbers augmented
by winter visitors; north B9 , centre, south B2 . Open deciduous
and semi-evergreen forests, secondary growth, scrub, margins
of cultivation, up to at least 1200 m.
Streptopelia chinensis Spotted Dove. Resident; north, centre,
south B2 . Open country, cultivation, open deciduous forest
and secondary growth, up to at least 1450 m.
Streptopelia tranquebarica Red Collared Dove (= Red Turtle
Dove, ^K, ^T). Seasonal status unclear, breeds in at least
south; north (historically B21 ), centre (historically B22 ) south B2 .
Open deciduous forest and adjacent scrub and secondary
growth of lowlands; non-breeding birds up to at least 1200
m (David-Beaulieu 1944). There have been no recent records
of non-breeding flocks or of any birds in north or central Lao
PDR, suggesting that the population may have declined (August
and September flocks formerly exceeded 100 birds). The
species’s conservation status should be reconsidered at regular
intervals.
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