Birds of South-East Asia: Concise Edition [1 ed.] 9781472924230, 9781472924247, 9781472924254

Table of contents :
Cover
Title
Copyright
Contents
Introduction
Species account/plate information
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations & conventions
Glossary
Avian topography
Plates and species accounts
PLATE 1 SCRUBFOWL, FRANCOLINS, PARTRIDGES, QUAILS & BUTTONQUAILS
PLATE 2 ARBOROPHILA PARTRIDGES & FERRUGINOUS PARTRIDGE
PLATE 3 PARTRIDGES, PHEASANTS, TRAGOPANS, MONALS & JUNGLEFOWL
PLATE 4 LOPHURA PHEASANTS
PLATE 5 PHEASANTS & GREEN PEAFOWL
PLATE 6 GEESE, SHELDUCKS, WHITE-WINGED DUCK & COMB DUCK
PLATE 7 WHISTLING-DUCKS, COTTON PYGMY-GOOSE & TYPICAL DUCKS
PLATE 8 DABBLING DUCKS
PLATE 9 RED-CRESTED POCHARD & DIVING DUCKS
PLATE 10 PINK-HEADED DUCK, MERGANSERS, GREBES & LOONS
PLATE 11 WRYNECKS, PICULETS & SMALLER TYPICAL WOODPECKERS
PLATE 12 DENDROCOPOS WOODPECKERS
PLATE 13 PICUS WOODPECKERS
PLATE 14 MISCELLANEOUS WOODPECKERS
PLATE 15 LARGE WOODPECKERS & BARBETS
PLATE 16 HONEYGUIDES & BARBETS
PLATE 17 LARGER HORNBILLS
PLATE 18 SMALLER HORNBILLS, COMMON HOOPOE & ROLLERS
PLATE 19 TROGONS
PLATE 20 KINGFISHERS
PLATE 21 KINGFISHERS
PLATE 22 CLAMATOR & HAWK CUCKOOS & CORAL-BILLED GROUND CUCKOO
PLATE 23 CUCULUS CUCKOOS, DRONGO CUCKOO & ASIAN KOEL
PLATE 24 SMALLER CUCKOOS
PLATE 25 MALKOHAS & COUCALS
PLATE 26 BEE-EATERS & SMALL PARROTS
PLATE 27 COCKATOOS & PARAKEETS
PLATE 28 SWIFTLETS & TREESWIFTS
PLATE 29 NEEDLETAILS & TYPICAL SWIFTS
PLATE 30 SMALLER OWLS
PLATE 31 LARGER OWLS
PLATE 32 OWLS & FROGMOUTHS
PLATE 33 NIGHTJARS
PLATE 34 COLUMBA & IMPERIAL PIGEONS
PLATE 35 DOVES & CUCKOO DOVES
PLATE 36 GREEN PIGEONS
PLATE 37 MISCELLANEOUS DOVES & PIGEONS
PLATE 38 BUSTARDS, CRANES & MASKED FINFOOT
PLATE 39 CRAKES, GALLINULES & JACANAS
PLATE 40 CRAKES & RAILS
PLATE 41 EURASIAN WOODCOCK & SNIPES
PLATE 42 GODWITS, CURLEWS & RUFF
PLATE 43 SANDPIPERS, TATTLERS, TURNSTONES & DOWITCHERS
PLATE 44 LARGER SANDPIPERS
PLATE 45 SMALL SANDPIPERS
PLATE 46 SMALLER SANDPIPERS & RED-NECKED PHALAROPE
PLATE 47 PAINTED-SNIPES, PRATINCOLES & VARIOUS LARGE WADERS
PLATE 48 STILTS, PIED AVOCET, RINGED PLOVERS & CRAB-PLOVER
PLATE 49 CHARADRIUS PLOVERS
PLATE 50 PLUVIALIS PLOVERS & LAPWINGS
PLATE 51 LARGER GULLS & BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE
PLATE 52 SMALLER GULLS
PLATE 53 JAEGERS, INDIAN SKIMMER, PELAGIC TERNS & NODDIES
PLATE 54 CRESTED & TYPICAL TERNS
PLATE 55 COASTAL, RIVERINE & MARSH TERNS
PLATE 56 BAZAS, ORIENTAL HONEY-BUZZARD, BAT HAWK & KITES
PLATE 57 OSPREY, SEA EAGLES & FISH EAGLES
PLATE 58 VULTURES
PLATE 59 MISCELLANEOUS RAPTORS
PLATE 60 HARRIERS
PLATE 61 ACCIPITERS
PLATE 62 NORTHERN GOSHAWK & BUZZARDS
PLATE 63 AQUILA EAGLES
PLATE 64 BLACK, IMPERIAL & HIERAAETUS EAGLES
PLATE 65 HAWK EAGLES
PLATE 66 FALCONETS & SMALLER FALCONS
PLATE 67 FALCONS
PLATE 68 DARTER, CORMORANTS & FRIGATEBIRDS
PLATE 69 EGRETS & POND HERONS
PLATE 70 HERONS, SPOONBILLS & PELICANS
PLATE 71 LITTLE HERON, NIGHT HERONS & BITTERNS
PLATE 72 GREATER FLAMINGO, IBISES & ADJUTANTS
PLATE 73 STORKS
PLATE 74 TROPICBIRDS, BOOBIES, PETRELS, SHEARWATERS & STORM-PETRELS
PLATE 75 PITTAS
PLATE 76 PITTAS & BROADBILLS
PLATE 77 LEAFBIRDS & IORAS
PLATE 78 ASIAN FAIRY BLUEBIRD, SHRIKES & RAIL-BABBLER
PLATE 79 JAYS, MAGPIES & SPOTTED NUTCRACKER
PLATE 80 TREEPIES & CROWS
PLATE 81 ORIOLES
PLATE 82 CUCKOOSHRIKES & PIED TRILLER
PLATE 83 MINIVETS
PLATE 84 MINIVETS & DRONGOS
PLATE 85 WOODSWALLOWS, FLYCATCHER-SHRIKES & FANTAILS ETC
PLATE 86 WHISTLERS & MONARCHS TO WOODSHRIKES
PLATE 87 MISCELLANEOUS THRUSHES & GRANDALA
PLATE 88 TYPICAL THRUSHES & COCHOAS
PLATE 89 DIPPERS, TYPICAL THRUSHES & RHINOMYIAS FLYCATCHERS
PLATE 90 MUSCICAPA & FICEDULA FLYCATCHERS
PLATE 91 FICEDULA FLYCATCHERS
PLATE 92 BLUE-AND-WHITE & VERDITER FLYCATCHERS & NILTAVAS
PLATE 93 CYORNIS FLYCATCHERS & PYGMY BLUE FLYCATCHER
PLATE 94 ERITHACUS & LUSCINIA ROBINS
PLATE 95 SHORTWINGS, BUSH ROBINS, ORIENTAL MAGPIE ROBIN & SHAMAS
PLATE 96 REDSTARTS, ROBINS, CHATS & ISABELLINE WHEATEAR
PLATE 97 REDSTARTS & FORKTAILS
PLATE 98 STARLINGS
PLATE 99 ASIAN GLOSSY STARLING & MYNAS
PLATE 100 STARLINGS, NUTHATCHES & WINTER WREN
PLATE 101 NUTHATCHES, WALLCREEPER & TREECREEPERS
PLATE 102 TYPICAL TITS, YELLOW-BROWED TIT & AEGITHALOS TITS
PLATE 103 CHINESE PENDULINE, FIRE-CAPPED & SULTAN TITS, & MARTINS
PLATE 104 WHITE-EYED RIVER MARTIN, SWALLOWS & WHITE-EYES
PLATE 105 PYCNONOTUS BULBULS
PLATE 106 FINCHBILLS, PYCNONOTUS, HEMIXOS & HYPSIPETES BULBULS
PLATE 107 MISCELLANEOUS (MAINLY FOREST) BULBULS
PLATE 108 PRINIAS & STRIATED GRASSBIRD
PLATE 109 CISTICOLAS, ASIAN STUBTAIL & CETTIA BUSH WARBLERS
PLATE 110 BRADYPTERUS & LOCUSTELLA WARBLERS & GRASSBIRDS
PLATE 111 ACROCEPHALUS WARBLERS
PLATE 112 GOLDEN-BELLIED GERYGONE, TESIAS & TAILORBIRDS
PLATE 113 PHYLLOSCOPUS WARBLERS & LESSER WHITETHROAT
PLATE 114 GOLDCREST & PHYLLOSCOPUS WARBLERS
PLATE 115 PHYLLOSCOPUS, TICKELLIA & ABROSCOPUS WARBLERS
PLATE 116 SEICERCUS WARBLERS & RUFOUS-FACED WARBLER
PLATE 117 LAUGHINGTHRUSHES
PLATE 118 LAUGHINGTHRUSHES
PLATE 119 LAUGHINGTHRUSHES & RED-FACED LIOCICHLA
PLATE 120 JUNGLE BABBLERS & STRIPED & WEDGE-BILLED WREN BABBLERS
PLATE 121 SCIMITAR BABBLERS & LONG-BILLED WREN BABBLER
PLATE 122 WREN BABBLERS
PLATE 123 STACHYRIS BABBLERS
PLATE 124 MALACOPTERON BABBLERS, TIT BABBLERS & GRASS BABBLERS
PLATE 125 CUTIA & SHRIKE BABBLERS
PLATE 126 BARWINGS, MINLAS & FULVETTAS
PLATE 127 FULVETTAS
PLATE 128 TURDOIDES & GAMPSORHYNCHUS BABBLERS, BABAXES & SIBIAS
PLATE 129 LEIOTHRIXES, YUHINAS & FIRE-TAILED MYZORNIS
PLATE 130 PARROTBILLS
PLATE 131 LARKS & ACCENTORS
PLATE 132 FLOWERPECKERS
PLATE 133 SUNBIRDS
PLATE 134 SUNBIRDS & SPIDERHUNTERS
PLATE 135 WAGTAILS
PLATE 136 FOREST WAGTAIL & PIPITS
PLATE 137 SPARROWS, WEAVERS & PLAIN MOUNTAIN FINCH
PLATE 138 PARROTFINCHES & MUNIAS
PLATE 139 FRINGILLA & CARDUELIS FINCHES, BULLFINCHES & GROSBEAKS
PLATE 140 FINCHES & RED CROSSBILL
PLATE 141 MYCEROBAS GROSBEAKS, GOLD-NAPED FINCH & BUNTINGS
PLATE 142 BUNTINGS
Selected bibliography
Bird study and conservation organizations
Index

Citation preview

HELM FIELD GUIDES

Birds of South-East Asia Concise Edition Craig Robson Illustrated by Richard Allen, Tim Worfolk, Stephen Message, Jan Wilczur, Clive Byers, Mike Langman, Ian Lewington, Christopher Schmidt, Andrew Mackay, John Cox, Anthony Disley, Hilary Burn, Daniel Cole and Martin Elliott

CHRISTOPHER HELM LONDON

Christopher Helm An imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc 50 Bedford Square London WC1B 3DP UK

1385 Broadway New York NY 10018 USA www.bloomsbury.com

BLOOMSBURY, CHRISTOPHER HELM and the Helm logo are trademarks of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc First published by New Holland in 2005 This electronic edition published 2015 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Copyright © 2005 in text: Craig Robson Copyright © 2005 in cartography: Craig Robson/Bloomsbury Publishing Copyright © 2005 in avian topography: Richard Allen Copyright © 2005 in plates: Richard Allen, Tim Worfolk, Stephen Message, Jan Wilczur, Clive Byers, Mike Langman, Ian Lewington, Christopher Schmidt, Andrew Mackay, John Cox, Anthony Disley, Hilary Burn, Daniel Cole, Martin Elliott Craig Robson has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as Author of this work. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publishers. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. ISBN (print): 978-1-4729-2423-0 ISBN (ePub): 978-1-4729-2424-7 ISBN (ePDF): 978-1-4729-2425-4

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CONTENTS Front paper – Visual index Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Species account/plate information . . . . . . . . . .6 Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Abbreviations & conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Avian topography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Plates and species accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 MEGAPODIIDAE Scrubfowl . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 PHASIANIDAE Francolins, partridges, quails, pheasants and junglefowl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 DENDROCYGNIDAE Whistling-ducks . . . . .22 ANATIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 ANATINAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Anserini Geese, atypical ducks and pygmy-geese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Anatini Typical ducks . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 TURNICIDAE Buttonquails . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 INDICATORIDAE Honeyguides . . . . . . . . . . .40 PICIDAE Wrynecks, piculets and typical woodpeckers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 MEGALAIMIDAE Asian barbets . . . . . . . . . . .38 BUCEROTIDAE Asian hornbills . . . . . . . . . . .42 UPUPIDAE Hoopoes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 TROGONIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Harpactini Asian trogons . . . . . . . . . . .46 CORACIIDAE Rollers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 ALCEDINIDAE Smaller kingfishers . . . . . . . . .48 HALCYONIDAE Larger kingfishers . . . . . . . . .50 CERYLIDAE Pied kingfishers . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 MEROPIDAE Bee-eaters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 CUCULIDAE Old World cuckoos . . . . . . . . . .52 CENTROPODIDAE Coucals . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 PSITTACIDAE Parrots and parakeets . . . . . . .60 APODIDAE Swifts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 HEMIPROCNIDAE Treeswifts . . . . . . . . . . . .64 TYTONIDAE Barn, grass and bay owls . . . . . .72 STRIGIDAE Typical owls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 BATRACHOSTOMIDAE Asian frogmouths . .72 EUROSTOPODIDAE Eared nightjars . . . . . .74 CAPRIMULGIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74 CAPRIMULGINAE Typical nightjars . . . .74 COLUMBIDAE Pigeons and doves . . . . . . . . .76 OTIDIDAE Bustards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84 GRUIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84

GRUINAE Typical cranes . . . . . . . . . . . . .84 HELIORNITHIDAE Finfoots . . . . . . . . . . . . .84 RALLIDAE Rails, gallinules and coots . . . . . . . .86 SCOLOPACIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90 SCOLOPACINAE Woodcocks and snipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90 TRINGINAE Godwits, curlews, sandpipers, dowitchers, phalaropes and allies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92 ROSTRATULIDAE Painted-snipes . . . . . . . .102 JACANIDAE Jacanas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86 BURHINIDAE Thick-knees . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 CHARADRIIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 RECURVIROSTRINAE . . . . . . . . . . . .102 Haematopodini Oystercatchers . . . . .102 Recurvirostrini Ibisbill, stilts and avocets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 CHARADRIINAE Plovers and lapwings 104 GLAREOLIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 DROMADINAE Crab-plover . . . . . . . . .104 GLAREOLINAE Pratincoles . . . . . . . . . .102 LARIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110 LARINAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110 Stercorariini Skuas and jaegers . . . . . .114 Rynchopini Skimmers . . . . . . . . . . . .114 Larini Gulls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110 Sternini Terns and noddies . . . . . . . . .114 ACCIPITRIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120 PANDIONINAE Osprey . . . . . . . . . . . . .122 ACCIPITRINAE Hawks and eagles . . . . .120 FALCONIDAE Falcons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140 PODICIPEDIDAE Grebes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 PHAETHONTIDAE Tropicbirds . . . . . . . . .156 SULIDAE Boobies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .156 ANHINGIDAE Darters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144 PHALACROCORACIDAE Cormorants . . . .144 ARDEIDAE Egrets, herons and bitterns . . . . .146 PHOENICOPTERIDAE Flamingos . . . . . . .152 THRESKIORNITHIDAE Ibises and spoonbills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .148 PELECANIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .148 PELECANINAE Pelicans . . . . . . . . . . . .148 CICONIIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .152 CICONIINAE Storks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .152 FREGATIDAE Frigatebirds . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144 GAVIIDAE Loons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

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PROCELLARIIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .156 PROCELLARIINAE Petrels and shearwaters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .156 HYDROBATINAE Storm-petrels . . . . . .156 PITTIDAE Pittas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .158 EURYLAIMIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160 CALYPTOMENINAE Green broadbills .160 EURYLAIMINAE Typical broadbills . . . .160 PARDALOTIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .232 ACANTHIZINAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .232 Acanthizini Gerygones and allies . . . .232 IRENIDAE Fairy bluebirds and leafbirds . . . .162 LANIIDAE Shrikes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .164 CORVIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .164 CINCLOSOMATINAE Rail-babblers and allies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .164 PACHYCEPHALINAE . . . . . . . . . . . . .180 Pachycephalini Whistlers and allies . .180 CORVINAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .166 Corvini Jays, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers, crows and allies . . . . . . . .166 Artamini Woodswallows and allies . . .178 Oriolini Orioles, cuckooshrikes, trillers, minivets and flycatcher-shrikes .170 DICRURINAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .176 Rhipidurini Fantails . . . . . . . . . . . . .178 Dicrurini Drongos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .176 Monarchini Monarchs, paradise-flycatchers and allies . . . . . . . .180 AEGITHININAE Ioras . . . . . . . . . . . . . .162 MALACONOTINAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .180 Vangini Philentomas, woodshrikes and allies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .180 CINCLIDAE Dippers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .186 MUSCICAPIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .182 TURDINAE Thrushes and shortwings . . .182 MUSCICAPINAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .186 Muscicapini Old World flycatchers . . .186 Saxicolini Chats and allies . . . . . . . . .196 STURNIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .204 Sturnini Starlings and mynas . . . . . . .204 SITTIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .208 SITTINAE Nuthatches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .208 TICHODROMINAE Wallcreeper . . . . . .210 CERTHIIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .210 CERTHIINAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .210 Certhiini Treecreepers . . . . . . . . . . . .210 TROGLODYTINAE Wrens . . . . . . . . . .208 PARIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212 REMIZINAE Penduline tits . . . . . . . . . . .214

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PARINAE Typical tits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212 AEGITHALIDAE Long-tailed tits . . . . . . . . .212 HIRUNDINIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .214 PSEUDOCHELIDONINAE River martins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216 HIRUNDININAE Martins and swallows 214 REGULIDAE Crests and allies . . . . . . . . . . . .236 PYCNONOTIDAE Bulbuls . . . . . . . . . . . . .218 CISTICOLIDAE African warblers (cisticolas, prinias and allies) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .224 ZOSTEROPIDAE White-eyes . . . . . . . . . . . .216 SYLVIIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .226 ACROCEPHALINAE Tesias, warblers, tailorbirds and allies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .226 MEGALURINAE Grassbirds . . . . . . . . . .224 GARRULACINAE Laughingthrushes . . . .242 SYLVIINAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .234 Timaliini Babblers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .248 Sylviini Sylvia warblers . . . . . . . . . . .234 ALAUDIDAE Larks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .270 NECTARINIIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .272 NECTARINIINAE Dicaeini Flowerpeckers . . . . . . . . . . . .272 Nectariniini Sunbirds and spiderhunters . . . . . . . . .274 PASSERIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .270 PASSERINAE Sparrows . . . . . . . . . . . . .282 MOTACILLINAE Wagtails and pipits . .278 PRUNELLINAE Accentors . . . . . . . . . . .270 PLOCEINAE Weavers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .282 ESTRILDINAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .282 Estrildini Estrildine finches (Red Avadavat, parrotfinches, munias and Java Sparrow) . . . . . . . . .282 FRINGILLIDAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .282 FRINGILLINAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .282 Fringillini Chaffinches and Brambling . . . . . . . . .286 Carduelini Finches, siskins, crossbills, grosbeaks and allies . . . . . . . .282 EMBERIZINAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .290 Emberizini Buntings and allies . . . . . .290 Selected bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .294 Bird study and conservation organizations .295 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .296 Endpaper – Ornithological regions in SouthEast Asia and Main geographical features and political boundaries in South-East Asia

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INTRODUCTION

This guide is a condensed version of A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia (Robson 2000), and is intended to be as portable as possible, for use in the field. Obviously, in order to save space and therefore weight, the species accounts are relatively short and are intended to be as concise as possible within the publisher’s brief. Additionally, the illustrations are spread across an increased number of plates (142 rather than 104), and all of the species text faces the relevant plates. For more detailed information on a given species, consult the above-mentioned guide. Taxonomy and nomenclature follow A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia, with the following exceptions (the references followed for each treatment appear in parentheses): Siamese Partridge Arborophila diversa is lumped in Chestnut-headed Partridge A. cambodiana (Eames et al. 2002); Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoo Hierococcyx fugax becomes two species, Malaysian Hawk Cuckoo H. fugax and Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoo H. nisicolor (King 2002); Mongolian Gull Larus mongolicus is treated as a distinct species, rather than a race of Herring Gull L. argentatus (Yésou 2001, 2002); Slender-billed Vulture Gyps tenuirostris is split from Long-billed (Indian) Vulture G. indicus (Rasmussen and Parry 2001); Indian Spotted Eagle Aquila hastata is split from Lesser Spotted Eagle A. pomarina (Parry et al. 2002); Green-backed Flycatcher Ficedula elisae is split from Narcissus Flycatcher F. narcissina (Round 2000); and Common Stonechat Saxicola torquata becomes Siberian Stonechat S. maura (Wink et al. 2002). Three species new to science also appear in this guide: Omei Warbler Seicercus omeiensis (Martens et al. 1999), Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush Garrulax konkakinhensis (Eames and Eames 2001), and Mekong Wagtail Motacilla samveasnae (Duckworth et al. 2001). Additionally, the generic name Houbaropsis is reinstated for Bengal Florican, rather than Eupodotis (Inskipp et al. 1996), and the common name Ludlow’s Fulvetta is used for Alcippe ludlowi, as the alternative (Brown-throated Fulvetta) is so misleading. Unfortunately, however, in order to balance out the plates, and compare some similar species, it has not been possible to follow the exact (correct) species order. Eleven species that were not illustrated in the original work (Wandering Whistling-duck Dendrocygna arcuata, Swan Goose Anser cygnoides, Sacred Kingfisher Todirhamphus sanctus, Stilt Sandpiper Micropalama himantopus, Aleutian Tern Sterna aleutica, Black Tern Chlidonias niger, Red-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda, Chinese Penduline Tit Remiz consobrinus, Snowy-throated Babbler Stachyris oglei, Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs and Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus) are now fully illustrated, as are 16 species that have been recorded as new to the region since publication of the original work (Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator, Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba, White-headed Stilt Himantopus leucocephalus, Laughing Gull Larus atricilla, Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla, Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea, Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus, Yellow-billed Loon Gavia adamsii, Rusty-bellied Shortwing Brachypteryx hyperythra, Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria, Pleske’s Warbler Locustella pleskei, Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita, Chestnuteared Laughingthrush, Ludlow’s Fulvetta, Mekong Wagtail and Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica). A single new subspecies (or species, depending on your viewpoint) now recorded from the region, White Wagtail Motacilla alba lugens (aka ‘Black-backed Wagtail’), is also illustrated. Significantly, it has also been possible to have more than 120 illustrations from the original guide improved or corrected. Two species (Vega Gull L. vegae and Saunders’s Tern S. saundersi) that were included in the original work, but have not been recorded from the region, are now deleted. All species known to have been recorded in the region by the author up to spring 2003 are dealt with and illustrated, and distribution and other texts have been widely updated. Two new species for South-East Asia have been recorded between this date and the book going to press: Little Gull Larus minutus at Bang Pu, Samut Prakan, C Thailand, in November 2001, and Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus at Pulau Langkawi, Kedah, Peninsular Malaysia in January 2001. If readers find any errors or omissions, the author (c/o New Holland Publishers) would be pleased to receive any information that updates or corrects that presented herein, in the hope that an improved edition may appear in the future.

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SPECIES ACCOUNT/PLATE INFORMATION

• The total length of each species appears after the species name. • A comparative approach has been adopted with species descriptions, where scarcer species are generally compared to commoner or more widespread species. In general, those species considered to be easily identifiable have been afforded less coverage than the more difficult species. • Comparisons between similar species are dealt with directly and separately under the various sex/age or other headings. • Males are described first (except in polyandrous species) and female plumage compared directly to the male plumage. • Names of illustrated subspecies are only given after the first sex/age class dealt with. It can be assumed that the following illustrations are of the same race, until another one is mentioned. The ornithological regions of South-East Asia (see inside back cover) where a given subspecies has been recorded (e.g. NW Thailand, S Annam) appear in parentheses after its name – though generally not in the case of the first subspecies listed, the range of which can be deduced by consulting the map and then subtracting the ranges of other subspecies. Subspecies given as ‘ssp.’ are currently undescribed or in the process of being described. Details of non-illustrated sex/age classes refer to the last named subspecies in the sequence. The subspecies listed under ‘Other subspecies’ are generally not considered to differ markedly from the first subspecies mentioned. • Altitude ranges refer to South-East Asia only. • References to 6°, 9° and 12° N etc. refer to the ‘Malay Peninsular’ only, unless stated. • Species depicted on any one plate have been illustrated to the same scale (smaller in the case of flight figures) unless stated. • Readers will notice that some regularly used words in the range texts, and the generic names of a few species have been abbreviated. These were necessary space-saving measures.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am grateful to a number of people for their valuable assistance during the preparation of this work. In particular, I would like to thank those artists who painted new figures and made amendments to some of the original ones. During visits to the bird collections at the Natural History Museum, Tring, I was greatly assisted again by staff there (Mark Adams, Robert Prys-Jones and F.E ‘Effie’ Warr). Others who helped me in updating the text were Philip Round, Pamela Rasmussen, Per Alström, Bill Clark, Peter Davidson, Will Duckworth, Jonathan Eames, Tim Inskipp, Mikhail Kalyakin, Peter Kennerley, Ben King, Le Hai Quang, Paul Leader, Yoshimitsu Shigeta and David Wells. I am also very grateful to Nigel Collar for his painstaking work in editing the manuscript, and the designer at D & N Publishing for the difficult task of rearranging the plates. Jo Hemmings, Jane Morrow and Charlotte Judet at New Holland showed a high level of commitment to the project.

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ABBREVIATIONS & CONVENTIONS

Co Fc Lc Lfc Un Ul Lo Sc Sl Vl Ra Rl

Common Fairly common Locally common Locally fairly common Uncommon Uncommon local Local Scarce Scarce local Very local Rare Rare local

R FER FR BV B FB

Resident Feral resident Former resident Breeding visitor Breeds Formerly bred

WV FWV PM NBV FNBV VS V Fo Frc Rc E

Winter visitor Former winter visitor Passage migrant Non-breeding visitor Former non-breeding visitor Visits/visiting/visitor Vagrant Formerly occurred Formerly recorded Recorded Extinct

> < ssp. Syn. M f

More than Less than (up to) subspecies currently undescribed Synonym Male Female

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GLOSSARY

Axillaries: the feathers at the base of the underwing. Bird-wave: mixed-species feeding flock. Casque: an enlargement of the upper mandible, as in many hornbill species. Cere: a fleshy structure at the base of the bill which contains the nostrils. Clang: loud ringing sound. Clangour: clanging noise. Comb: erect unfeathered fleshy growth, situated lengthwise on crown. Crest: tuft of feathers on crown of head, sometimes erectile. Distal: (of the part) further from the body. Dorsal: of or on the back Eclipse: a dull short-term post-nuptial plumage. Face: informal term for the front part of the head, usually including the forehead, lores, cheeks and often the chin. Flight feathers: in this work, a space-saving collective term for primaries and secondaries. Fringe: complete feather margin. Frugivorous: fruit-eating. Graduated tail: tail on which each feather, starting outermost, is shorter than the adjacent inner feather. Gregarious: living in flocks or communities. Gular: pertaining to the throat. Gunung: Malay word for mountain. Hackles: long, pointed neck feathers. Hepatic: brownish-red (applied to the rufous morph of some cuckoos). Knob: a fleshy protrusion on the upper mandible of the bill. Lappet: a fold of skin (wattle) hanging or protruding from the head. Lateral: on or along the side. Leading edge: the front edge (usually of the forewing in flight). Local: occurring or relatively common within a small or restricted area. Mask: informal term for the area of the head around the eye, often extending back from the bill and covering (part of) the ear-coverts. Mesial: down the middle (applied to streak on chin/ throat, mostly of raptors); interchangeable with gular.

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Morph: a permanent alternative plumage exhibited by a species, having no taxonomic standing and usually involving base colour, not pattern. Nomadic: prone to wandering, or occurring erratically, with no fixed territory outside breeding season. Nuchal: pertaining to the nape and hindneck. Ocelli: eye-like spots, often iridescent. Orbital: surrounding the eye. Pelagic: of the open sea. Polyandrous: mating with more than one male (usually associated with sex-role reversal). Post-ocular: behind the eye. Race: see Subspecies. Rami: barbs of feathers. Shaft-streak: a pale or dark line in the plumage produced by the feather shaft. Subspecies: a geographical population whose members all show constant differences, in plumage and/or size etc., from those of other populations of the same species. Subterminal: immediately before the tip. Terminal: at the tip. Terrestrial: living or occurring mainly on the ground. Tibia: upper half of often visible avian leg (above the reverse ‘knee’). Trailing edge: the rear edge (usually of the wing in flight). Underparts: the lower parts of the body (loosely applied). Underside: the entire lower surface of the body. Upperparts: the upper parts of the body, usually excluding the head, tail and wings (loosely applied). Upperside: the entire upper surface of the body, tail and wings. Vagrant: a status for a species nationally or regionally when it is accidental (rare and irregular) in occurrence. Vermiculated: marked with narrow wavy lines, often only visible at close range. Web: a vane (to one side of the shaft) of a feather. Wing-bar: a line across a closed wing formed by different-coloured tips to the greater or median coverts, or both. Wing-panel: a lengthwise strip on closed wing formed by coloured fringes (usually on flight feathers).

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AVIAN TOPOGRAPHY

The figures below illustrate the main plumage tracts and bare-part features. This terminology for bird topography has been used extensively in the species descriptions, and a full understanding of these terms is important if the reader is to make full use of this book; they are a starting point in putting together a description.

back median crown stripe

uppertail-coverts

rump

lateral crown stripe

lores

tail supercilium eyering

culmen

tertials eyestripe

upper mandible

scapulars lesser coverts median coverts

lower mandible

moustachial stripe

malar stripe

greater coverts secondaries

submoustachial stripe

carpal joint lores forehead

crown

alula

ear-coverts

primary coverts nape (hindneck) primaries mantle

chin

scapulars

gape cheeks throat lesser coverts median coverts breast alula greater coverts primary coverts flanks belly

back secondaries tertials rump uppertail-coverts tail tarsus vent undertail-coverts thigh

primaries

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PLATE 1 SCRUBFOWL, FRANCOLINS, PARTRIDGES, QUAILS & BUTTONQUAILS 1 NICOBAR SCRUBFOWL Megapodius nicobariensis 39 cm (a) Adult nicobariensis: Plain brown and greyish, red facial skin. Juvenile: Brown below, facial skin smaller/paler, initially buffier facial area. VOICE kyouououou-kyou-kou-koukoukoukoukou (first note rising, rest decreasing in staccato series) from males. Cackling kuk-a-kuk-kuk call. HABITAT & BEHAVIOUR Island forest understorey, nearby sandy beaches. Runs from danger. RANGE FR (still?) Coco Is, S Myanmar. 2 CHINESE FRANCOLIN Francolinus pintadeanus 31–33 cm (a) Male phayrei: Blackish with whitish spots/bars, ear-coverts white with black surround, throat white. Crown-sides rufous, scapulars chestnut. (b) Female: Duller/browner, less black on crown-centre, little chestnut on scapulars, more barred than spotted below. (c) Juvenile: Duller than female, less rufous on crown, pale streaks above, eyestripe and moustachial streak almost lacking or latter reduced to spots. VOICE Male territorial call is loud harsh metallic wi-ta-tak-takaa. HABITAT Open forest and woodland, grass and scrub; up to 1,800 m. RANGE Fc/co R (except Tenasserim, S Thailand, Pen Malaysia, Singapore). 3 BLACK PARTRIDGE Melanoperdix nigra 24–27 cm (a) Male nigra: Glossy black with slightly browner wings. (b) Female: Dark chestnut; buffier head-sides/throat/vent, black scapulars spots. Chestnut scales/bars on head-sides/throat (may be blacker on cheeks). (c) Juvenile: As female but fine pale and dark vermiculations and some pale spots above; less black on scapular, large whitish spots and dark bars down breastsides/flanks, whiter vent. HABITAT & BEHAVIOUR Broadleaved evergreen forest; up to 610 m. Very shy. RANGE Sc R Pen Malaysia. 4 COMMON QUAIL Coturnix coturnix 20–20.5 cm (a) Male coturnix: Possibly tends to have less chestnut base colour to breast/flanks and browner upperparts than nonbreeding male Japanese; slightly larger (wing >105 mm). (b) Female/first winter: No dark gular stripe. May be inseparable in field (either sex) from Japanese. VOICE Male territorial call is rhythmic whistled pit pil-it. May give slightly ringing pikkreee when flushed. HABITAT Lowland grassy areas, cultivation. RANGE Ra WV/V W,S Myanmar. 5 JAPANESE QUAIL Coturnix japonica 19 cm (a) Male non-breeding japonica: As female but throat with blackish to chestnut gular-line and bar, breast warmer (often more chestnut and less blackish streaks. (b) Male breeding: Pinkish-chestnut head-sides/throat diagnostic. Often has dark throat-bands. (c,d) Female/first winter: Brownish above with whitish/buff streaks and speckles, rufescent to chestnut breast/flanks, with black and whitish streaks. Pale buff/whitish throat with double dark bar at side (often short moustachial line almost joining first bar). Base colour of breast and flanks tends to more chestnut than Common (broad chestnut streaks may be distinctive if present), typically somewhat darker/greyer above; wing