The avifauna of Ghana: additions and corrections

2008·5.8 MB·

by  Robert J Dowsett

The avifauna of Ghana: additions and corrections
RobertJ. Dowsett*, FrangoiseDowsett-Lemaire* andAndrewHester**
L’avifaune du Ghana: additions etcorrections. Cetarticlepresente une miseajourde laliste des
oiseauxdu Ghanadepuis Dowsett (1993). En tout22 especes etunesous-especesontajoutees ou
confirmees, mais 24 especes doivent etre supprimees ou mises en doute. Le nom d’une espece a
change : la Cisticole de Dorst Cisticolaguinea (au lieu de Cisticole a tete rousse C. ruficeps).
Summary. This article brings up to date the list ofthe birds ofGhana (Dowsett 1993). In all, 22
species and one subspecies are added or confirmed, but 24 species should be rejected or ques-
tioned. The name of one species has changed: Dorst’s Cisticola Cisticola guinea (instead of
Red-pate Cisticola C. ruficeps).
T
he birds ofGhana have received a good deal (often as A. toussenelii) and we have 40 localities
,
ofattention in recent years by a number of on file, from CapeThree Points north to Kyabobo
&
experienced observers, and it has become clear (Dowsett-Lemaire Dowsett 2005, 2007) and
that there is much in the standard works (e.g. Wenchi (Grimes 1987).
Grimes 1987, Ntiamoa-Baidu et al. 2001) that
needs updating or correcting. AH has lived in Cory’s Shearwater Calonectrisdiomedea
Ghana sinceApril 2004, and has travelled widely; AH hadgoodviews ofup to 15 birds afewkm off
RJD & FD-L have spent a total of almost 8 Ada inApril 2005. Two were reportedlywell seen
months in the field (7 July-11 September 2004, offAda, on 13 November 1994, with alarge flock
17 December 2004-3 April 2005, and 22 ofBlackTerns Chlidonias niger Simms in Bull.
(J.
February-7 April 2008), during which time they ABC 2: 62). This Palearctic migrant is known
surveyed all ofthe protectedareas managedbythe from severalWestAfrican countries.
GhanaWildlife Division.
Pendingcompletionofadetailedreviewofdis- Western Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus
tribution and status, we present here what we Helsens (1996) reported a single male at Elmina,
believe should be additions to or deletions from inApril 1993, andvan den Brink etal. (1998) up
the avifauna ofGhana (Grimes 1987, as amended to 15 birds on three dates during the period 7-27
by Dowsett 1993). We deal with 22 species (and December 1996, at Legon, Buipe and Accra-
one subspecies) which are additions or confirma- Elmina. One was also seen at Sakumo Lagoon,
tions for the Ghana list, and a further 24 species near Accra, date not available, by H. Fletcher
which we recommend be considered erroneous or (pers. comm, to AH). This Palearctic migrant has
in need ofsupporting details. We also draw atten- been reported in small numbers from most parts
tion here to an important name change: Dorsfs ofWestAfrica.
Cisticola Cisticolaguinea is the same bird as that
called Red-pate Cisticola Cisticola ruficeps by Eleonoras Falcon Falco eleonorae
Grimes (1987), seeDowsett-Lemaireetal. (2003). An all-black falcon was seen in flight and at rest
The current Ghana avifauna consists of 732 along the Volta lakeshore, in Digya NP, at
species. Coordinates are given for localities not Daditokolo (07°42’N 00°09’W) on 22-23
mentioned in Grimes (1987). Abbreviations are: January2005. RJDhadcloseviewsofitatrestand
NP/PN for National Park and FR for Forest in flight. It was long-winged and long-tailed, the
Reserve. underwing showing a marked contrast between
the black coverts and paler flight-feathers. It was
Additions to the avifauna of Ghana thus Eleonoras rather than the similar Sooty
Ntiamoa-Baidu et al. (2000a) comment that Falcon F. concolor (which is also less likely geo-
African Goshawk Accipiter tachiro was recorded graphically). An Eleonoras Falcon ringed in the
for the first time for Ghana during their field Canary Islands was recovered in Mali (at Doura:
&
work; this is incorrect, for it has long been known 14°59’N 05°12’W) on 7 March (Delgado
TheavifaunaofGhana:additionsandcorrections:Dowsettetal. BullABCVol15No2(2008)-191
Figure laandb.American Golden PloverPluvialis
dominica, Sakumonolagoon, Ghana, 17February2008
(TonyTraub-Evans).
PluvierbronzePluvialisdominica, lagunedeSakumono,
Ghana, 17 fevrier2008 (TonyTraub-Evans).
Figure2. BarredOwlet Glaucidium capenseperchedin a
large CeibatreeinAfadjatohill forest, Ghana, 2April
2008 (TonyTraub-Evans).
ChevechetteduCap Glaucidium capensepercheedans un
grand CeibadanslaforetduMontAfadjato, Ghana, 2
avril2008 (TonyTraub-Evans).
Figure 3. Map ofdistribution (30’ squares) inUpper
GuineaofBarredOwlet Glaucidium capense. A denotes a
publishedrecordconsideredin needofconfirmation
(Lachenaud2006).
Distribution (parcarres de 30’) delaChevechetteduCap
Glaucidium capenseenAfrique Occidentale. A designe
unedonneepublieequi necessiteconfirmation
(Lachenaud2006).
Quilis 1990), on a direct line between north-west
Africa and the wintering area in Madagascar. One
is also reported to have been filmed in Mt. Peko
NP, Cote d’Ivoire (07°05’N 07°13’W), in March
(G. Rondeau in Bull. ABC8: 147).
Buff-spotted Flufftail Sarothrura elegans
C. Carter (in lift. 2003) heard two ofthis species
calling at night at Ntronang (06°21’N 01°05’W)
on 8 May 1995; one ofthem called incessantlyfor
at least two hours from 22.30 hrs and again at
dawn. Fie was extremely familiar with it in
Zambia and Zaire. L. Carter (pers. comm, to C.
Carter) had heard it regularly there at night from
30April, and itwas lastheardatdawn on 11 May.
Grimes (1987) accepted a nocturnal sound record
from near Tarkwa, even though the description
‘does not tally completely’ with published
accounts, but that report was not accepted by
Keith et al. (1970) and was queried by Dowsett
(1993). The present record is the first between (Chek? &Walsh 1996), but otherwise the nearest
Ubiaja, Nigeria (06°37’N 06°20’E) (Bannerman record is of a male observed at Fadar Fadar,
1935) and Mt. Sangbe NP, Cote d’Ivoire Burkina Faso (c.15°N 00°40’W) (Weesie 1996),
(07°55’N 07°17’W) (H. Rainey in Bull. ABC 10: surprisingly far north. There is no certain record
37). from Cote d’Ivoire (Thiollay 1985).
Red-chested Flufftail Sarothrura rufa American Golden Plover Pluvialisdominica
One was calling from a large reedbed at a gold Two were well seen in rice fields c.50 km east of
minedetention pond nearObuasi, mid-May2007 Accra, on 12-13 November 2005 (AH, H.
(AH, who is familiar with the species in South Fletcher & C. Pearman). Up to four were present
Africa). Already known from neighbouring Togo at Sakumono lagoon, Tema (05°37’N 00°02’W)
192-BullABCVol15No2(2008) TheavifaunaofGhana:additionsandcorrections:Dowsettetal.
andPrampram between 3 November2007 and28 slightly in size and the markings on the upper-
February 2008, one of them in partial breeding parts, features notvisible in the field.
dress by February (AH, RJD, FD-L et al.), and
photographs by T. Traub-Evans (Fig. 1) show African Black SwiftApus barbatus
clearly the key features of the species (marked At least four swifts ofthis species were identified
supercilium, buffy chest an—d grey underwing- flying high across the Pru River (07°56’N
coverts). Macdonald (1978 not 1987, as in 01°09’W) on 14 March 2008 (FD-L). Theywere
Grimes 1987) claimed one from Nakwa lagoon similar to Common Swifts A. apus in size and
(05°12’N 00°56’W), on 4 October 1977, but shape, identification being based on their distinc-
Dowsett (1993) considered the details insufficient tivecalls (characteristic, buzzingtrills),withwhich
to be sure ofthe species. FD-L has been familiar since 1976. FD-L and
RJD saw25-35African BlackSwiftsnearthepeak
Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus ofMt.Afadjato in eastern Ghanaon2April2008.
The first for Ghana was a female in almost full Most were circling over a rocky hill (Aduadu) to
breeding plumage at Sakumono lagoon, on 22 the north ofAfadjato, at an altitude of 800 m.
July 2004 (AH). One was at the same place on 3 Some pairs were interacting and calling. It is like-
December 2004 (AH), and another was at ly that the eastern highlands of Ghana (and
Panbros saltworks (05°31’N 00°19’W), on 15 adjacent Togo) have a small breeding population,
&
January2006 (AH, H. Fletcher P. Samuels). hitherto unknown. There are possible sight
&
records from Togo (Cheke Walsh 1996), as
Barred Owlet Glaucidium capense close to Afadjato as Evou Apegame (07°32’N
RJD & FD-L found this owlet in 2004-08 in 01°02’E, not 00°02’E as published). This repre-
eight protected areas, from Shai Hills Resource sents a major range extension, as the nearest
Reserve north to Kyabobo NP (c.08°45’N population is in thehighlands ofthe Nimba range
00°45’E) andwestto BuiNP (08°21’N 02°18’W) (Gatter 1993).
(Fig. 3: 10 x 30’ squares). Itwas tape-recordedand
seen on 17 January 2005, in the south-east of Horus SwiftApushorns
Kogyae Strict Nature Reserve (Kyariase: 07°12’N Atleasttwo, seen byRJD & FD-Loverthesouth-
01°02’W), singingatdawn inapatchoftransition ern boundary road of Mole NP (c.09°13’N
woodland, with a pocket ofdry forest Anogeissus 01°57’W), on 13 August 2004, next to African
(
andManilkard) on the edge ofa banana farm. In White-rumped Swift A. caffer, were identified by
2008wesawandhearditin theeasternhighlands, the only moderately forked tail but far more
and itwas photographed byT. Traub-Evans in the extensive white rump thanA. caffer. One seen by
open canopy of dry semi-evergreen forest at the same observers low over the water at Dam 1,
Afadjato (07°01’N 00°34’E: Fig. 2). The first Mole NP (09°16’N 01°51’W), on 9 March 2005.
records for Ghana ofa species with a limited dis- These sightings extend the range from southern
tribution in West Africa (Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia), Niger (Tapoa in PN du W, at 12°15’N 02°15’E:
the nearest known locality hitherto being Comoe Crisler et al. 2003). This species breeds in large
NP (c.08°45’N 03°45’W) in Cote d’Ivoire sand cliffs (often in bee-eater holes) and could be
(Salewski 2000). All localities are within the for- morewidespread inWestAfrica.
est/savanna transition zone, the habitat being the
edge of riparian or gallery forest (Wli Falls, MountainWagtail Motacilla clara
Kalakpa, Kyabobo, south of Bui NP), dry forest We do not share the misgivings ofGrimes (1987)
(Shai Hills, Afadjato, Amedzofe) and transition regarding C. M. Morrison’s confident report of
Daniellia woodland with—a few forest trees one seen at awaterfall near Begoro, subject to the
(Kogyae, Digya, Kyabobo see also Dowsett- usual caveat regarding single-observer sight
Lemaire & Dowsett 2007). The vocal dialect fits records. This bird is not montane in West Africa
that ofthe race etchecoparipublished by Chappuis (as Grimes suggested), and is known from several
&
(1978, 2000); cf. sonograms in Dowsett similar sites in neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire (e.g.
Dowsett-Lemaire (1993). This race differs only Thiollay 1985).
TheavifaunaofGhana:additionsandcorrections:Dowsettetal. BullABCVol15No2(2008)-193
WhiteWagtailMotacilla alba known from few sites in Nigeria and has only
Plat (1997) saw two (one almost fully adult) just recently been identified in southern Togo (Selfe
east of Bolgatanga, i.e. on the Atamore River 2003). Furtherwest there is onlyapossible record
(10°47’N 00°51’W), on 12-13 February 1997. ofa singing bird from Ferkessedougou, northern
This is about as far south as the species is likelyto Cote d’Ivoire (09°24’N 05°14’W) (Thiollay
winter in West Africa. Grimes’s (1987) inclusion 1985), which that author considered
ofthis wagtail on the Ghana list results from his unconfirmed.
considering it to be conspecific with African Pied Itwas not listed for Ghana by Grimes (1987),
WagtailM. aguimp. even though Chappuis (1978) had published a
good tape-recording ofthe song said to have been
LowlandAkalat Sheppardia cyornithopsis obtained in Ghana by Grimes. However, L. G.
A female was mist-netted, ringed and pho- Grimes (in litt. 2006) informs us that this record-
tographed, on 7 February 2003, near a stream at ing came in fact from Cameroon, not Ghana, and
an upland site (above 700 m) in theAtewa Range is thatoriginallyattributedto B. lopezicamerunen-
FR (RJD, FD-L). The bird had an active brood sis (Grimes 1971) but corrected to B. baboecala
patch, and thus was brooding nestlings (eggs (Grimes 1972). The Owabi and Sakumono
would have been laid January); wing-length 69.3 records are thus the first for the country.
mm, weight 17 g (18 birds ringed in west-central
Africa had wings ranging from 66.5-78.0 mm, African ReedWarblerAcrocephalusscirpaceus
mean 72 mm; RJD pers. obs.). Aid had brief, but baeticatus-group)
(
good, views ofa single bird on 20 October 2006 Quite common in rank, moist grass on the Volta
in the same area oftheAtewa Hills, and excellent lakeshore at Walando (Digya NP: 07°38’N
views ofanother halfway up the northern side of 00°20’W) in January 2005, but less numerous
the range, on 26August 2007. than European birds (RJD, FD-L). The two taxa
This akalat occurs in neighbouring countries were well seen side by side, and both were mist-
immediately west of Ghana (Cote d’Ivoire to netted and ringed: five of the local race of
Liberia, Sierra Leone and southern Guinea). A baeticatus cinnamomeus were in fresh plumage,
, ,
specimen from Atewa, claimed as Equatorial one (female) apparently fattening as if to lay
Akalat S. aequatorialis by Ntiamoa-Baidu et al. (weighing 14.4 g) had not yet developed a brood
(2000b), was subsequently identified, by patch. There are few West African records ofthe
J.
Fjeldsa, as a Lowland Akalat (J. Fjeldsa in litt. baeticatus-group between Lake Chad and Senegal.
1997); Roy etal. (2001) later confirmed that the Treated by some authors as a separate species, but
specimen was unquestDioNnaAbly S. cyornithopsis, a molecular study (Parkin et al. 2004) has con-
based on analysis ofits (see rejected species firmed the morphological and behavioural
below). evidence for them being conspecific (Dowsett-
&
Lemaire Dowsett 1987).
Little Rush Warbler Bradypterus baboecala
Heard by RJD & FD-L singing in dense Typha Nimba FlycatcherMelaenornisannamarulae
reedbeds on the far side of the lake at Owabi Confirmation of the presence of this semi-
Wildlife Sanctuary (06°45’N 01°43’W) on 11 montane Upper Guinea endemic in the Atewa
January 2005. The songster was too distant to be Rangehas been documentedelsewhere (Demey&
tape-recorded, but the observers are familiar with Hester 2008). This is the easternmost record of
its song from several countries in Africa, including the species, the nearest of several localities in
Zambia, Malawi and Cameroon. AH has heard neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire being Mopri FR
this species on numerous occasions throughout (05°50’N 04°55’W) (Gartshore etal. 1995).
the year, in dense reedbeds at the northern end of
Sakumono lagoon, eastofAccra, and RJD heard it Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus
there on 28 February 2008. On 15 March 2005 an adult male (all-black
This warbler of dense aquatic vegetation is wings) was seen in woodland near Gruppe
widespread in tropical and southern Africa but (09°13’N 02°13’W), just beyond the southern
tends to become scarce west of Cameroon. It is boundaryofMoleNP (RJD, FD-L).AH observed
194-BullABCVol15No2(2008) TheavifaunaofGhana:additionsandcorrections:Dowsettetal.
a male on 3 April 2007 in almost the same area, inthesouthofMoleNP inAugust2004produced
south ofthe southern boundary ofMole NP. One clear imitations of Black-bellied Firefinch
male was seen in the west ofDigya NP (07°23’N Lagonosticta rara (FD-L).
00°37’W) on 8 March 2008 (FD-L). The first
admissible records for Ghana, as Grimes (1987) Ortolan BuntingEmberiza hortulana
did not accept a sighting ofa female near Legon. An adult malewas filmed at Mole motel bysever-
al observers on 23 March 2006 (Lister 2007), a
Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea furtherrecordindicativeofthewinterrangeofthis
One in non-breeding plumage was seen closely at Palearctic migrant (McGregor 2004).
Dansoman, Accra (05°33’N 00°12’W), around 1
July 2003 (Hobberstad 2008). This is the only Species whose claimed occurrence in
record we know ofbetween the Lake Chad area, Ghana is erroneous or needs confirmation
Nigeria (Ottosson et al. 2002) and The Gambia We consider below species that were accepted by
(Gore 1990), but the species is prone to vagrancy, Grimes (1987), butwhichwe thinkthereis reason
having even reached the Seychelles and Aldabra to doubt, as well as records that have appeared
occasionally (Skerrett etal. 2001). subsequently in print, and which might be
thought to be candidates for the Ghanaian List,
Common MynaAcridotheres tristis but which remain unconfirmed.
One photographed at Labadi Beach (05°33’N
00°09’W), Accra, on 21 July-1 August 2001 (A. Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus
Johnston, in Bull. ABC 9: 68 & in litt. to P. W. Gordon (1992) reported43 sightings on atotal of
Atkinson), was either ship-assisted or an escape 37 days in the Amansuri wetlands, on the south-
from captivity.This is thefirstreportofthis unde- west coast. No dates or other details are given and
sirable alien species inWestAfrica. no mention is made ofthe fact that this species is
known in WestAfrica only as an extreme vagrant
CommonWaxbill Estrilda astrild to a few Sahelian countries (Borrow & Demey
AH observed the species on a few occasions in 2001). This record is surely in error.
September2006 (5-6 inagroup) nearSunyani, in
mixed agricultural land and modified grassland. Olive Ibis Bostrychia olivacea
Sight records from three localities (Winterbottom Grimes (1987) included this species on the basis
in Bannerman 1949, Sutton 1965), including of a single sight record, at the ferry on the
Winterbottom’s from Sunyani, were rejected by Kade-Akropong road (this is the Akropong at
Grimes (1987) as probably referring to Black- 06°12’N 00°39’W, not the better known locality
rumped Waxbill E. troglodytes. However, he in Akwapim, and the ferry was on the Birrim
accepted a single sighting from Tumu (the refer- River). However, the observer himselfwrote ‘this
enceisnotSutton 1965, as mightbeinferredfrom identificationis not certain’ (Holman 1947: 626);
Grimes, but Sutton 1970), on the grounds that his description ofthe voice could apply to either
the observer also reported E. troglodytes common- this species or to Spot-breasted Ibis B. rara and
,
ly. There is clearly a population at least in the the latter in the field is not the ‘appreciablysmall-
Sunyani area of central-west Ghana, and the erbird’ thathefeltpublisheddescriptionsimplied.
species is also reported from several places in We cannot eliminate the possibility that these
neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire (e.g. Thiollay 1985). wereB. rara, knownwithcertaintyfromtenplaces
A report ofthree in Accra on 9 January 2006 (R. in Ghana, including Atewa Range FR (Dowsett-
Cruse in Bull. ABC 13: 102) must surely refer to Lemaire & Dowsett 2005), a few km east of
escaped cagebirds. Holman’s locality. Spot-breasted Ibis ranges from
Cape Three Points north to the Sene River at
&
Cameroon Indigobird Vidua camerunensis 07°30’N 00°54’W (Dowsett-Lemaire Dowsett
Specimens from Mole and Damongo, apparently 2005; pers. obs.). The voice ofB. rara was tape-
attributedbyPayne (1982) to another Vidua were recorded on 6 May 2007 by B. Phalan (pers.
,
subsequently identified as V camerunensis (R. B. comm.) at Bonsa River FR (05°15’N 02°10’W).
Payne inFry& Keith2004). Several males singing We believe there is no completely acceptable
TheavifaunaofGhana:additionsandcorrections:Dowsettetal. BullABCVol15No2(2008)-195
record ofB. olivacea inWestAfrica betweenYapo, European Golden PloverPluvialisapricaria and
Cote d’Ivoire (05°42’N 04°06’W) (Demey & Pacific Golden PloverPluvialisfulva
Fishpool 1991) and Campo, Cameroon (02°22’N Grimes (1987) placed all reports ofgolden plovers
09°49’E) (R. Demey pers. comm.). A recent underoneheading (i.e. Pluvialusapricaria, Pfulva
reportfrom south-eastNigeria (A. Ajagbe etal., in and P. dominica). One record identified as P. apri-
Bull. ABC 12: 187) remains to be documented. caria from Songawlagoon (05°49’N 00°28’E), on
16 January 1986, cannot be accepted, notwith-
EgyptianVulture Neophronpercnopterus standing that one of the observers was very
The sighting ofan adult along the Mole scarp on experienced. Nor do we think a report of ‘pre-
&
9August 1968 (Harvey Harrison 1970) should sumed’ P.fulvaatNungua, on2April 1966, meets
not be accepted as the only record for Ghana in the criteria sufficient to eliminate other species.
the absence ofsupporting information, despite its These three species can be difficult to separate,
inclusion byGrimes (1987).The species is unlike- and anyone could occur inWestAfrica (although
ly to occur substantiallysouth ofthe Sahel. Papricariawouldseem theleastlikelyas farsouth
as the coast ofGhana, and there have since been
Riippell’s GriffonVulture Gyps rueppellii acceptable records ofP.dominica, see above). Both
Grimes (1987) mentioned an ‘uncertain’ sighting P fulva and dominica are reported from Cote
&
ofone in Mole, on 11 January (Sutton 1970), but d’Ivoire (Demey Fishpool 1991).
it, andeven moreso an undocumentedsightingin
the forest zone ofsouthern Ghana, seems not to Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromusgriseus
warrant inclusion on the Ghana Listwithout con- Macdonald (1977) reported a sighting from Iture,
vincing details. Both this species and the lastwere which he took to be this species rather than the
rejected from Mole by Greig-Smith (1976). very similar Long-billed Dowitcher L. scolopaceus
on the basis of its call. Although Grimes (1987)
Black-rumped (Hottentot) Buttonquail Turnix mentioned that T. Inskipp considered the details
hottentottus insufficient to make identification certain, he nev-
A specimen was reported fromAccra (Bannerman ertheless accepted the record. The description
1931: 308, not p. 487 as in Grimes 1987), and published is certainly slight for such a difficult to
Maze (1971) claimedtohaveseenfiveinMoleNP identify, extreme rarity, and the voice as described
in April, but these should not be accepted in the would seem perhaps more likely to refer to L.
absence of supporting details. This intra-African scolopaceus. Underthecircumstances, itnowseems
migrant (of which there are few authentic West best to treat the record as aLimnodromussp.
African records) is readily misidentified.
Pennant-winged NightjarMacrodipteryx
Nubian Bustard Neotis nuba vexillarius
‘Vagrant, the one record in the Shai Hills is way Grimes (1987) rejected this intra-African migrant
south of its normal range: identified by Game on the basis ofan out-of-season (early February)
Wardens, 30 Mar 1968’ (Grimes 2003).The sighting at Accra. Si—milarly, its listing from Shai
occurrence of this Sahel species Gis WexDtremely Hills by Rice (n.d—.) a reference not mentioned
unlikely, and identification by staff byGrimes (1987) should not be accepted in the
undoubtedly mistaken. absence of details. There are few acceptable
records ofvagrants ofthis species inWestAfrica.
Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor
&
Van Gastel van Gastel (1999) thought theysaw Speckled Mousebird Coliusstriatus
this Palearctic migrant on the coast east of Accepted byGrimes (1987) as occurringin Ghana
Prampram on 19 May 1996; we have reservations, on the basis ofits being listed as ‘rare (seen regu-
and would retain the record in square brackets, as larlyin small numbers)’ in savannain MoleNP by
there is no other indication that the species occurs Greig-Smith (1976), with no indication that the
south ofthe Sahel. latterwas aware ofhow astonishing thiswould be,
i.e. the first report from west ofNigeria. Grimes
interpreted Greig-Smith’s (1976) ‘small numbers’
196-BullABCVol15No2(2008) TheavifaunaofGhana:additionsandcorrections:Dowsettetal.
as meaningV.5 orless’, and even attributed this to reported this species, andsowebelieve the records
the race nigricollis, although neither specimen nor remain to be confirmed.
photographs exist. The only other observer to
mention this species for Mole is Wilson (1993), Crested Lark Galerida cristata
who wrote: ‘Appears to be widespread and com- Greig-Smith (1976) listed it as ‘seen regularly in
mon’. This species is quite unknown to the more small numbers’ in bovals in Mole NP, and
experienced guards, two of whom were already although he gave no supporting details, this was
workinginMolein the 1990s. Itcould, undercer- accepted by Grimes (1987) as the first and only
tain circumstances, beconfusedwithYellow-billed record for Ghana.Thiswas clearlyamisidentifica-
Shrike Corvinella corvina but both Greig-Smith tion of Sun Lark G. modesta (not listed by
(1976) andWilson (1993), also listed that species. Greig-Smith), which RJD & FD-L found to be
Giventheverygreatzoological interestthataniso- common on all bovals visited in Mole, in August
lated population in Mole would represent, we 2004 and March 2005. Birds were singing on the
believe proofis required before it can be accepted ground and aerially, occurring in pairs and groups
as occurring in the past. J. F. Walsh (in litt. 2007) ofup tosix. InWestAfrica, CrestedLarksarecon-
never saw the species in Ghana when he was resi- fined to extensive sandy plains in the Sahel, and
dent (1970-76), includingin several days spentin have never been observed on laterite bovalswithin
Mole (1971-72, 1974-73 and 1979). Extensive the Sudanian region.
surveys in 2004-03 have failed to locate any
(RJD, FD-L). Ornithologists who have travelled Richard’s PipitAnthus richardi
widely in Ghana in recent years, in addition to Grimes (1987) accepted a sighting from the Keta
ourselves, havefailedto findthespecies (R. Cruse, Plains north ofSrogboe. Whether this would be a
D. Hoddinott, D. Moyer, A. Riley in litt. Palearcticmigrant (thedateis unusual, 22May) or
2005-06). A sighting from an Accra garden an intra-African vagrant (local populations are
&
(Rainey Lachenaud 2002), if correctly identi- essentially montane in West Africa), we prefer to
fied, could only have been an escape from retain such a record in square brackets, as some
captivity, in this well-worked locality. As regards species ofpipit are very difficult to identify.
Ghana, we believe it should be retained in square
brackets. Yellow-bellied Bulbul Chlorocichlaflaviventris
H. Schifter (in litt. 2003) has examined and andYellow-streaked Bulbul Phyllastrephus
published on the great majorityofColiusmuseum flavostriatus
specimens in existence; he has no proof of the Ntiamoa-Baiduetal. (2000b) claimedfromAtewa
occurrence ofC. striatusanywhere inWestAfrica. the first occurrence in Ghana of ’Yellow-bellied
Apart from the Ghanaian claims, there is a sight- Greenbul Phyllastrephus flavostriatus\ combining
ingbyH. Raineyfrom Coted’Ivoire: agroup ofat the English name ofC.flaviventriswith the scien-
leastfive ‘nearacocoaplantation south ofVavoua’ tific name of Yellow-streaked Bulbul. In an
(07°23’N 06°29’W), on 4 July 1998 (Rainey & unpublished, undated annual report ofthe Ghana
Lachenaud 2002). The status in West Africa of Wildlife Society the same bird is treated as both
what is normally an easily observed species Yellow-bellied Greenbul C. flaviventris (p. 9) and
remains a mystery. Yellow-bellied Greenbul (sic) Phyllastrephusflavos-
triatus (p. 37). In anotherpaperNtiamoa-Baiduet
Lyre-tailed Honeyguide Melichneutes robustus al. (2000a) listed P.flavostriatus as present in at
One was reportedly seen at Nkwanta, Ankasa least two forestsites, withoutgivingdetails. Either
(05°10’N 02°39’W) and ‘the distinctive trumpet- species is impossible in Ghana: the Chlorocichla is
ing display’ heard once at Boin-Tano (05°29’N a bulbul of dry thicket in the Zambezian and
02°39’W), presumably in August 1989 (Dutson coastal regions of southern Africa; the
&
Branscombe 1990). G. Dutson (in litt. 2007) Phyllastrephus is confined to the montane and
informs us that this was not his record (we have some lowland forests of eastern Africa (from the
been unable to contact Branscombe). Ntiamoa- Albertine Rift to SouthAfrica).
J.
Baidu etal. (2000a) list it as present at one forest
site, without giving details. No-one else has
TheavifaunaofGhana:additionsandcorrections:Dowsettetal. BullABCVol15No2(2008)-197
Tiny Greenbul Phyllastrephusdebilis are few authentic records ofE albicollis in Upper
Van den Brink et al. (1998: 48-49) trapped and Guinea, and it is readily confusedwith its siblings
ringed three bulbuls at Ayensudo (05°09’N F. hypoleuca and Semi-collared Flycatcher F.
01°28’W) and Piase (Pease: 06°38’N 01°27’W) semitorquata.
which they listed as this East African coastal
species. B. van den Brink (in litt. 2003) informs us Cassin’s Malimbe Malimbus cassini
this was a slip for Little Greenbul Andropadus Reportedly seen in five different places
virens. (Macdonald & Taylor 1977, Dutson &
Branscombe 1990), and the well-worked Kakum
EquatorialAkalat Sheppardia aequatorialis NP (R. Cruse in Bull. ABC 10: 59). Aware that
Ntiamoa-Baidu et al. (2000b) claimed (as a first this Lower Guinea species is unlikely to occur in
for Ghana) S. aequatorialis collected in a mist-net Ghana, ithas been suggested theymight in fact be
,
at Atewa. In another paper, Ntiamoa-Baidu etal. Ibadan Malimbe M. ibadanensis (R. Cruse).
(2000a) listed the species as present in at least two Neither of these identifications is correct, and
forest sites, without presenting details. This akalat birds seen several times at Kakum and attributed
is an Afromontane endemic with a very small to either species were in fact Crested Malimbe M.
range in easternAfrica (from the ImatongMts., in malimbicus (R. Ntakor pers. comm., present on
southern Sudan, to theAlbertine Rift andwestern some occasions). At Tafo, the site of some of
&
Kenya). It is clear that this was a misidentification Macdonald Taylor’s observations, a presumed
of S. cyornithopsis (see the Additions section M. cassiniwas seen inJanuary 1978 byJ. F. Walsh
above). {in litt. 2005), who sent us a written description
that accords well with a juvenile M. malimbicus
Yellow-bellied EremomelaEremomela (‘above black with red crown and nape, continu-
icteropygialis ous with bib. Face, chin and throat black’).
Grimes (1987) accepted sight records from Mole
NP, but we did not find it there and neither have Red-headed Malimbe Malimbus ‘coronatus
other recent observers. We know of no other This Lower Guinea species was listed for Kakum
record in this part ofWest Africa south ofGonse (Moyer 1996: 109), but this must be a slip ofthe
(Gonsen), Burkina Faso (12°40’N 01°25W) (B. pen, through confusion with the English name of
Portier in litt. 2004), and thus prefer to place this M. rubricollis.
species insquarebrackets. Confusionwith Senegal
(Green-backed) Eremomela E. pusilla is always AnorntuhmerbnerGhoafntahebyspMecoimesbruepeotratle.d(2f0r0o7m)paanrdtsthoef
possible.
Nature Conservation Research Centre (2002)
Chattering Cisticola Cisticola anonymus would be new for the country, but we have reser-
Although listed for Ghana in some old publica- vations about theiraccuracy, and no identification
tions, it has been shown that the only specimens details are given.
claimed were undoubtedly mislabelled, and from
Acknowledgements
Nigeria not Gold Coast (Lindsell 2007). The
Fordiscussingvarious observationswearegrateful to
species is listed as occurring at one ‘forest site’ in Phil Atkinson, Clide Carter, Richard Cruse, Ron
Ghana (Ntiamoa-Baidu etal. 2000a), butwith no Demey, Guy Dutson, Lincoln Fishpool, Jon Fjeldsa,
indication that the observers were aware of how
Llew Grimes, David Hoddinott, Sveinung
unusualthiswouldbe, andnodetails ofwhereand Hobberstad, Dave Moyer, Robert Ntakor, Ben
how identified. Competent observers who know Phalan, Bruno Portier, Adam Riley, David
this cisticolawell have failed to find it in Ghana. Shackleford, Herbert Schifter, Tony Traub-Evans,
Bennie van den Brink and FrankWalsh. Field work
Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis by RJD and FD-L in 2004-05 was undertaken as
All Ghanaianspecimens areinfactPiedFlycatcher part of the IUCN/WDSP project, and thanks are
F. hypoleuca (L. Svensson in Urban et al. 1997: due to Wildlife Division staffatAccra and the team
303), and this is doubtless true also of the sight leader, Peter Howard, for much practical assistance.
records, as anticipated by Grimes (2005). There For authorisation to undertake research in 2008 we
198-BullABCVol15No2(2008) TheavifaunaofGhana:additionsandcorrections:Dowsettetal.
thank Nana Kofi Adu-Nsiah, Executive Director of Dowsett-Lemaire, F., Borrow, N. & Dowsett, R. J.
the GhanaWildlife Division, and his colleagues. 2005. Cisticoladorsti(Dorst’sCisticola) and C. rufi-
cepsguinea are conspecific. Bull. Br. Omithol. Cl.
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