INDONESIA (LESSER SUNDAS) REP 10 - Birdquest

ORIOLIDAE
Olive-brown Oriole (Timor O) Oriolus melanotis: Quite a few were heard on Timor (nominate race),
and we had very good views of one at Bipolo. Endemic to Timor, Wetar, Roti and Semau.
Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis: This widespread and well known species was seen on Sumba
and Flores, and heard on Komodo. One of the more orange-yellow races was involved;
broderipii, with very broad black lateral head-bands.
Timor Figbird Sphecotheres viridis: Small numbers were seen well at Bipolo, Bariti and Oelnasi on
Timor, where it is mainly associated with fruiting trees. Endemic to Timor, Roti and
Semau; a split from Australasian (or Green) Figbird S. vieilloti.
CORVIDAE
Flores Crow Corvus florensis: Two birds were quite easily seen this year at Kisol. Heard at. With its
noisy wing-beats and comical calls, this really is an oddity. It is endemic to Flores and is
considered as Endangered by BirdLife International.
Southern Jungle Crow Corvus macrorhynchos: Regular sightings throughout. This is a good split from
the other members of the Large-billed Crow complex (Large-billed Crow C. japonensis,
Indian Jungle Crow C. culminatus, and Eastern Jungle Crow C. levaillantii). See Rasmussen
& Anderton’s Birds of South Asia.
PARIDAE
Grey Tit Parus cinereus: Not uncommon on Sumba and Flores. Here at the extreme eastern edge of
its range. A recent split in the Great Tit P. major complex.
TIMALIIDAE
Pygmy Wren-babbler Pnoepyga pusilla: One was seen very well around rock outcrops in the
highland forest on Gunung Mutis, Timor (timorensis), and many others heard. Rather more
fleetingly near Ruteng on Flores (everetti). The race on Timor is morphometrically and
vocally distinct, and may well be split in future, while the Flores bird also exhibits vocal
differences from the mainland.
TURDIDAE
White-browed Shortwing Brachypteryx montana: Heard at Golo Lusang, and Jürgen managed to see
one. This is the isolated and very distinctive floris race, which has a very rich song, and is
a likely future split.
Chestnut-capped Thrush Zoothera dohertyi: The lucky few managed to get onto one that was feeding
at fruiting trees at Puarlolo, while we searched for Flores Monarch. Apparently
monotypic.
Chestnut-backed Thrush Zoothera dohertyi: This highly attractive thrush was seen well in a small
fruiting tree at Langgaliru, Sieghard and Gudrun saw one briefly at Pagal, there was
another in front of the bus on the way up to Golo Lusang, and one was seen at Puarlolo.
A few were heard singing from the depths of the forest on Timor. This monotypic Lesser
Sunda endemic is considered as Near-Threatened by BirdLife International, though it is
hard to see why.
Orange-sided Thrush (Orange-banded T) Zoothera peronii: Four of these lovely thrushes on Timor,
with the best encounter being the two birds at Bipolo. This is the nominate race, and the
species is restricted to the islands of Timor, Wetar, Babar, Romang and Damar. It is
considered as Near-Threatened by BirdLife International.
Island Thrush Turdus poliocephalus: Abundant and easily seen on Gunung Mutis this year, perhaps
due to the wetter conditions; the form here is schegelii, which is similar to several other
regional forms. There are no fewer than 52 so-called races of this ‘standing joke’ of a
species.
16 Birdquest: The Lesser Sundas 2010