Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report - IUCN

Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report
Phasianus colchicus Common Pheasant. Salter (1993b)
stated that this species “possibly occurs in north”, based on a
pencil-amended photocopy of the unpublished distribution
table of King et al. (1975). We have traced no primary source
of even a provisional record, and E. C. Dickinson (in litt.
1999), the original compiler of the table, confirmed that he
knows of none. (Plate 5)
Polyplectron germaini Germain’s Peacock Pheasant. Previous
claims of this species in Lao PDR apparently stem from
local reports and lack sufficient detail for listing even as provisional
records (Thewlis et al. 1998).
Argusianus argus Great Argus. Ogilvie-Grant (1893)
apparently listed this species from Lao PDR but there has
been no subsequent evidence and occurrence is most unlikely.
Anas clypeata Northern Shoveler An individual reported
from a market in Vientiane in 1991 (Srikosamatara et al. 1992)
may or may not have been caught in Lao PDR. No identification
details are now available, even to sex (B. Siripholdej
verbally 1999). Occasional winter visitors would be expected
to occur (Table 9).
Aythya fuligula Tufted Duck. Although recorded in King et
al. (1975) as a migrant in the north, the basis for this is not
now traceable (E. C. Dickinson in litt. to T. P. Inskipp 1997).
Occasional winter visitors would be expected to occur, as
indeed they would of several other congeners (Table 9).
Dendrocopos hyperythrus (= Picoides hyperythrus, ^K, ^T)
Rufous-bellied Woodpecker. Reference to this species in
Lao PDR relates to one collected by Harmand in the untraced
locality of ‘Kouys’ (= the land of the Kouy people) in 1875.
Kouys was stated clearly to be in Laos by Oustalet (1899-
1903: 259). The map of Indochina in Garnier (1869-1885)
placed the ‘Siam’ (in this sense, Lao PDR and Thailand) -
Cambodia boundary just north of Stung Treng (i.e. about 150
km south of the present position), and Kouys fell partly in
Cambodia and partly in ‘Siam’. None is within modern Lao
PDR. Although Harmand could conceivably have used
‘Kouys’ for a wider area than did Garnier, this seems an insufficient
reason to maintain the species on a list of birds
recorded from Lao PDR, even provisionally. E. C. Dickinson
(in litt. 1999) has confirmed that in the preparation of King
et al. (1975), the issue of ‘Kouys’ was not investigated, nor
was it by Thewlis et al. (1998). Recent records from Vietnam
(Le Xuan Canh et al. 1997), and the known Lao habitats
of other species collected at ‘Kouys’, suggest that this species,
if resident in Lao PDR, will be found in dry dipterocarp
forest. Additionally, winter migrants might visit high altitude
pine and evergreen broad-leaved forests in north Lao
PDR.
Picus viridianus Streak-breasted Woodpecker. The record
in Evans et al. (1996b) for Dong Hua Sao NBCA was an
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editorial error (Evans et al. in prep. a); the species is most
unlikely to occur in Lao PDR.
Aceros subruficollis (= Rhyticeros subruficollis, ^T) Plainpouched
Hornbill (included in Rhyticeros plicatus Blyth’s
Hornbill by ^K). Claridge (1996) listed this species for the
Nakai Plateau area but the original trip report lacks detail
and the record was not included in Thewlis et al. (1998).
There has been no further evidence and occurrence of this
species seems very unlikely.
Phaenicophaeus diardi Black-bellied Malkoha. A young
male malkoha taken along the lower Xe Don on 16 August
1929 was identified as this species on the basis of size
(Engelbach 1932). But for a claim from Cochinchina (Tirant
1879), this species is otherwise known only from the Sundaic
subregion (King et al. 1975). The species can easily be confused
with Green-billed Malkoha, and C. R. Robson (in litt.
1999) pointed out that Engelbach’s wing measurement fits
neither Black-bellied nor Green-billed (suggesting the bird
was but partly-grown and thus even more difficult to identify
conclusively). These factors and the general difficulties
of making identifications in Indochina over half a century
ago (see some re-identifications in Dickinson 1970b), make
it preferable to reject this record unless further evidence is
forthcoming.
Grus grus Common Crane. Sources including this as a member
of the Lao avifauna are apparently based on the predictive
report in McNeely (1975). Occasional occurrence is indeed
likely.
Porzana paykulli Band-bellied Crake. Sources including this
as a member of the Lao avifauna are apparently based on the
predictive report in McNeely (1975). Occasional occurrence
is not unlikely.
Sterna caspia (= Hydroprogne caspia, ^K) Caspian Tern.
Several groups of terns identified as this species were recorded
by Engelbach (1929) in a mid-May voyage up the
Mekong. The species was not listed by subsequent authors,
including Engelbach (1932) when discussing the same region
of Lao PDR. This suggests that the identification had
been revised.
Aquila rapax Tawny Eagle (separated as A. vindhiana
Eurasian Tawny Eagle by ^Sm 1 ). Sources including this as a
member of the Lao avifauna are apparently based on the predictive
report in McNeely (1975). Occasional occurrence is
not unlikely.
Spizaetus alboniger Blyth’s Hawk Eagle. Except for a
report from Lao PDR, this species is limited to the Sundaic
subregion (King et al. 1975). The Lao report refers to a bird