The birds of Roti Island, Nusa Tengagga, Indonesia

13 Pages·1996·3 MB·

by  R E Johnstone

THE BIRDS OF ROTI ISLAND, NUSA TENGGARA,
INDONESIA
By R.E. JOHNSTONE
Western Australian Museum, Francis Street, Perth, 6000 Western Australia
and P.JEPSON
Birdlife International, Jl. Batutulis No. 1, Bogor, Indonesia
SUMMARY
This paper is based mainly on data gathered during surveys of
Roti Island in October 1990 and September-October 1993. A total
of 83 species of bird were recorded during these visits and 168
specimens collected. Additional data has been collated from the
literature. The distribution, abundance and habitat preferences
found for each species are described. Many observations and
specimens represent new records for Roti Island.
INTRODUCTION Desa Tesabela 10°35'S, 123°15'E.
Two small islets namely Pulau
Roti Island lies 10 km SW of Timor
in the Indonesian province of Nusa Ndana (10°59'S, 122°53’E) and Batu
Heliana (10°58'S, 122°53'E) off the SW
Tenggara Timor (Figure 1). The Savu
coast of Roti were also visited.
Sea is to the north and the Timor
Sea to the south. It is a low Seven major habitats were
limestone island about 90 km long recognised on Roti.
and 25 km wide and covers an area 1. Marine. Includes coastal seas,
of c. 1220 km2. It has a tropical straits between islands and
monsoon type climate, character¬ gulfs.
ised by moderate stable tempera¬
2. Mangal. Roti Island has many
tures and high relative humidity.
shallow bays and inlets which
The wet season (northwest mon¬
contain extensive stands of
soon) begins in November and may
mangroves. Most blocks consist
continue until March. From April
of a pioneer or seaward zone of
to November (dry season) the winds
Rhizophora, Avicennia, Sonneratia
are predominantly from the south¬
and Bruguiera and a landward
east and are relatively dry.
zone of Avicennia and Ceriops.
Collections and observations in This habitat also includes small
1990 were made at the following creeks running into the mangal
sites: and sandy, muddy and rocky
Baa 10°44'S, 123°06'E; coasts.
Desa Oeseli 10°51'S, 123°05'E; 3. Cultivated areas. These include
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village gardens, rice fields, palm almost encircle the island. The
groves (coconut and lontar) and central portions of the island are
degraded pastures with castor- vegetated mainly with low vine
oil plant and lantana. forest including Ficus spp., Schleichea
4. Monsoon or semi-deciduous oleosa, Pterocarpus, Sterculia and
vine forest, thicket and scrub. Zizyphus. There is one large and two
Small pockets of vine forest small lagoons near the centre of the
occur along watercourses, in island and a small spring near the
northern end.
gullies and on tallus slopes and
bases of low cliffs. Most are Batu Heliana. This is a circular
regularly burnt and cut for limestone stack lying between Roti
firewood. Trees and shrubs and P. Ndana. It consists of steep,
include Schleichea oleosa, Ficus shelving limestone covered with
spp., Pterocarpus indicus, Albizia, open vine scrub
Erythrina, Melia, M yristica,
Atalaya, Celtis, Randia, Zizyphus
and Sterculia.
ORNITHOLOGICAL HISTORY
5. Open woodland. Dry open
woodlands with an understorey The ornithological history of Roti
of grass cover much of the Island is rather limited. The earliest
island. reports come from the anthro¬
pologist H.F.C. ten Kate who visited
6. Grassland. Areas of rank grass¬
the island from the 22 August to 9
land ‘alang alang’ lmperata
September 1891. He collected six bird
cylindrica occur throughout the
specimens representing five species
island.
which were listed in a paper by
7. Wetlands. There are several Buttikofer (1892). A further eight
freshwater lakes on Roti, most specimens were sent to the Leiden
of which have been severely Museum by ten Kate in October
degraded by domestic stock. 1892 and ten in 1893 (Mees 1975).
One c. 20 km SSE of Baa Some of these specimens were lost
contained about 4 ha of open and Mees (1975) lists a total of fifteen
water in October 1990 and was skins and one skeleton covering
edged with grassland and in thirteen species, collected by ten
some places with patches of Kate. Next came the Flores
bulrush Typha. missionary J.A.J. Verheijen who
Pulau Ndana. This is a flat visited Roti and neighbouring Dao
limestone island about 5 km long and Dob islands in 1969 and made
and 3 km wide, covering about 1562 collections and observations. Mees
ha. and lying 3 km off the south¬ (1975) gives details of both ten Kate’s
west tip of Roti (see Figure 1). There and Verheijen’s collections covering
is a sandy beach with a good landing 55 species for Roti and its satellite
on the north-east side with low islands.
coastal dune vegetated with Spinifex A few notes on birds seen on Pulau
longifolius and scattered small Ndana by a team from Balai
patches of Pandanus. Grassy coastal Konservasi, from 10-15 August 1990,
flats ranging from 200-800 m wide were included in a report on Rusa
24
I_l_I_I
300 km
.
Figure 1 Map of Nusa Tenggara (Lesser Sundas), Indonesia, showing Roti Island.
Deer Cervus timorensis (Djodi Zoologicum Bogoriense expedition,
Mochtar, 1990). from 5 October to 17 October 1990.
R.E. Johnstone visited the island A total of 168 specimens were
with a combined Western collected and observations were
Australian Museum - Museum made throughout the island. Short
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visits were also made to Pulau 20 km SSE of Baa on 16 October
Ndana and Batu Heliana. 1990. Mees (1975) lists a female with
P. Jepson visited Roti from 28 large gonads and a chick collected
September to 1 October 1993. by Verheijen in March 1969.
Egretta intermedia Intermediate
Egret - Only one record, Mees (1975)
ANNOTATED SPECIES LIST lists a female collected on Pulau Dao
by Verheijen on 18 April 1969.
PROCELL ARIIDAE Egretta garzetta nigripes Little Egret -
Locally moderately common. Two
Bulweria buhveria Bulwer’s Petrel - in mangal and 20 at small fresh
One in Roti Strait on 1 October 1993. water lake near Baa on 7 October; 15
Puffinus pacificus Wedge-tailed on mudflats at creek mouth near
Shearwater - One in Roti Strait on Baa on 9 October; and 8 at small
5 October 1990. Status in the region fresh water lake 20 km SSE of Baa
uncertain, very few published on 16 October 1990.
records. Egretta sacra Reef Heron - Two
white phase birds on mudflats near
PHALACROCORACIDAE Baa on 7 October; one dark phase in
bay near Oeseli; and one white and
Phalacrocorax melanoleucos Little
one dark phase on P. Ndana on 14
Pied Cormorant - One on rocks at
October 1990.
mouth of a small creek near Baa on
16 October 1990. Bubulcus ibis Cattle Egret -
Moderately common near Baa.
Pelecanus conspicillatus Australian
Small groups (up to 12). Coastal flats,
Pelican - Moderately common
edges of mangal, lake edges and
irregular non-breeding visitor from
open woodland. Often associated
Australia. Group of 150-200 listed
with domestic stock. Some showing
as residing on large lake Danau
traces of breeding plumage in
Oendui from April to November
October.
(UNDP/FAO Report 1982). Also five
listed and photographed on Pulau Butorides striatus javanicus Striated
Ndana by Balai Konservasi team in Heron - Moderately common in
August 1990. mangal and along rocky coasts.
Recorded near Baa, at Oeseli and on
Batu Heliana.
ARDEIDAE
Nycticorax caledonicus hilli Rufous
Ardea purpurea manilensis Purple
Night-heron - Uncommon. A
Heron - Mees (1975) lists one
female collected from canopy of
collected by ten Kate on 3 or 4
Rhizophora mangal near Baa on 11
September 1891.
October 1990. Mees (1975) lists a
Egretta picata Pied Heron - Two female with large gonads collected
adults at a small fresh water lake
by Verheijen on 14 April 1969.
with Typha and sedges, near Baa on
7 October 1990. *
Egretta novaehollandiae White-faced ACCIPITR1DAE
Heron - Scarce. Two on a small lake Circaetus gallicus Short-toed Eagle -
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Only one record, Mees (1985) lists a PHAS1ANIDAE
female collected by Verheijen on 11 Coturnix ypsilophora Brown Quail -
April 1969. Mees also discussed the Moderately common. Three at edge
status of this species in the Lesser of a cut Lantana grove near Baa on 7
Sundas, which may represent an October; a female collected from
endemic form. open woodland near Baa on 10
Accipiter fasciatus hellmayri Brown October; 4 in open woodland at
Goshawk - Mees (1975) lists a Oeseli on 14 October; and 6 in
juvenile male collected by ten Kate spinifex on a dune on P. Ndana on
in 1891. 14 October 1990. Mees (1975) also lists
6 specimens including half grown
Pernis ptilorhyncus Oriental Honey-
young collected at namo-Dale by
buzzard - One with worn flight
Verheijen in March 1969.
feathers, flying over Danau on 29
September 1993. Gallus gallus Red Junglefowl - Two
flushed from a vine thicket on Batu
Heliana (small islet off SE end of
FALCONIDAE
Roti Island) on 14 October 1990.
Falco moluccensis microbalia Spotted
Kestrel - Scarce. Remains of ^ d ad
bird found in open woodland near
RALL1DAE
Baa on 8 October, and one circling
Gallirallus philippensis Buff-banded
cliffs . n Baiu He c\r . 114 October
Rail - Mees (1975) lists a male from
1990. Mees (1975) diso lists an
Mok-Dale and a juvenile from
unsexed specimen collected by ten
Namo-Dale collected by Verheijen
Kate in 1891 and an Adult female
in April 1969.
from Pulau Dao collected by
Verheijen on 14 April 1969. Porzana cinerea White-browed
Crake - A male collected from rice
field near Baa in October 1990; also
ANAT1DAE
recorded at Danau Kecil in
Dendrocygna arcuata Wandering September 1993. Nest with 5 eggs
Whistling Duck - A flock of 15 on found at edge of a rice field near Baa
fresh water lake 20 km SSE of Baa on 10 October 1990. The nest was a
on 16 October 1990. Mees (1975) lists shallow saucer of dried grass 130
a juvenile and three downy young mm wide and 25 mm deep. Four of
collected at Namo-Dale by these eggs measured 27.8 x 20.4, 26.4
Verheijen in March 1969. x 21.1, 27.5 x 21.0 and 27.0 x 21.00
Anas gibberifrons Sunda Teal - A mm.
group of 35 on a small lake on the
Amaurornis phoenicurus leucomelanus
northern Pukuatu Peninsula in
White-breasted Waterhen - Locally
September 1993. Mees (1975) also lists
moderately common but generally
two immatures collected at Namo-
scarce. One edge of mangal near Baa
Dale by Verheijen on 24 April 1969.
on 8 October and an adult female
Anas superciliosa Pacific Black Duck collected from rice field near Baa on
- A flock of 120 on a small lake on 9 October 1990. Mees (1975) lists 3
the northern Pukuatu Peninsula in females and a downy chick
September 1993. collected at Mengge-Lama and
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Namo-Dale by Verheijen in March- September 1993.
April 1969. Tringa nebularia Common
Gallinula tenebrosa Dusky Moorhen Greenshank - Recorded at Danau
- Scarce. Recorded at Danau Kecil Besar on 30 September 1993.
on 29 September 1993. Tringa glareola Wood Sandpiper -
Porphyrio porphyrio Purple Swamp- One edge of a fresh water lake 20
hen - Only one record, Mees (1975) km SSE of Baa on 16 October 1990.
lists a specimen collected on Roti by Actitis hypoleucos Common
ten Kate in 1891. Sandpiper - Moderately common in
October 1990. Recorded at Baa,
JACANIDAE Oeseli and Tesabela. Mudflats, edge
of mangal and rocky coasts.
Irediparra gallinacea Comb-crested
Jacana - Only one record, Mees Heteroscelus brevipes Grey-tailed
(1975) lists a specimen collected on Tattler - Moderately common in
Roti by ten Kate in 1891. September-October. Mudflats,
mangal, sandy beaches and edge of
fresh water lake with Typha.
CHARADRIIDAE
Arenaria interpres Ruddy Turnstone
Pluvialis fulva Pacific Golden Plover - Recorded at Baa on 29 September
- Recorded near Baa on 28
1993.
September 1993.
Calidris subminuta Long-toed Stint —
Charadrius peronii Malaysian Plover Ten in short grass and mud at small
- Mees (1975) lists a male collected at
fresh water lake near Baa on 7
Pulau Do6 by Verheijen on 13 April
October.
1969.
Calidris acuminata Sharp-tailed
Charadrius mongolus Lesser Sand Sandpiper - Recorded at Danau
Plover - Recorded in September-
Besar on 30 September 1993.
October 1993.
RECURV1ROSTRIDAE
SCOLOPACIDAE
Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel - Himantopus leucocephalus Black¬
winged Stilt - Moderately common.
Moderately common in October.
Flock of 50 at a small fresh water
Ones, twos and small groups (up to
lake near Baa on 7 October and
10). Recorded at Baa, Tesabela and on
another of 20 at a lake 20 km SSE of
Pulau Ndana. Mangal, mudflats and
Baa on 16 October 1990. Mees (1975)
sandy beaches.
lists three specimens collected by
Tringa totanus Common Redshank ten Kate in 1891. Also listed and
- Recorded at Danau Besar on 30
photographed on Pulau Ndana in
September 1993.
August 1990.
Tringa stagnatilis Marsh Sandpiper -
Ten feeding on wet mudflats near
BURH1N1DAE
Baa on 7 October 1990; two at a
small freshwater lake 20 km SSE of Esacus magnirostris Beach Thick-
Baa on 16 October 1990; and knee - Five on sandy beach of
recorded at Danau Besar on 30 Pulau Ndana on 14 October 1990.
28
GLAREOLIDAE recorded on Pulau Ndana, Batu
Heliana and Pulau Dao. Mangroves,
Stiltia Isabella Australian Pratincole
- Single birds and small flocks (up ficus thickets and monsoon scrub
with fruiting trees.
to 10) on a grassy flat, edge of a small
lake, near Baa on 7 October 1990. Streptopelia chinensis tigrina Spotted
Mees (1975) lists one collected by ten Dove - Moderately common and
Kate on 25 August 1891. Migrants widespread. Mainly in and around
from Australia. cultivation, also monsoon thickets
and open Lontar woodland. Also
LAR1DAE listed for Pulau Ndana and Dao.
Chlidonias hybridus Whiskered Tern Geopelia striata maugei Zebra Dove -
- Flock of c. 70 in Roti Strait on 5 Common and widespread. Ones,
October 1990. twos and small groups (up to 6).
Mainly open woodland.
Sterna sumatrana Black-naped Tern
- Six feeding in a bay on NE end of Chalcophaps indica Emerald Dove -
island on 14 October 1990. Moderately common to common.
Mainly in ones and twos. Monsoon
Sterna anaethetus Bridled Tern —
thickets with Ficus, Zizyphus and
Single birds and small groups (up to
Randia; also edges of cultivation
6) off Roti in October 1990. Mees
with castor oil plants, lantana and
(1975) lists one collected on Pulau
Lontar palms; edges of mangal and
Dao by Verheijen on 21 April 1969.
open woodland. Mees (1975) lists
Sterna fuscata Sooty T "n - Flock of nestlings collected by Verheijen on
150 in Roti Strait and 2 just off Roti
16 and 19 March 1969.
on 5 October 1990. Mees (1975) lists a
Roti birds are intermediate in
female collected on Pulau Dao by
coloration between the brown and
Verheijen on 17 April 1969.
grey headed forms.
Sterna bergii Great Crested Tern -
Three single birds in Roti Strait on 5
PS1TTAC1DAE
October; flock of 20 at mouth of a
creek near Baa on 7 October; and 3 Tanygnathus megalorynchos Great¬
off SW coast on 14 October 1990. billed Parrot - One in forest at Seda
Anous stolidus Brown Noddy - Mees on the 30 September 1993. The first
(1975) lists a female collected at sea record for Roti.
near Pulau Dao by Verheijen on 17 Aprosmictus jonquillaceus Olive¬
April 1969. shouldered Parrot - Scarce. Mees
(1975) lists a male and female
COLUMB1DAE collected at Mok-Dale by Verheijen
on 31 March 1969.
Treron psittacea Timor Green Pigeon
- Mees (1975) lists a male collected at
Danau Bais by Verheijen on 20 CUCUL1DAE
March 1969. Chrysococcyx lucidus Shining Bronze
Ptilinopus regina ewingii Rose- Cuckoo - Mees (1975) lists two
crowned Fruit-dove - Moderately females and one male collected on
common in ones, twos and small Pulau Dao by Verheijen in April
groups (up to 4) on Roti; also 1969.
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Centropus bengalensis javanensis Halcyon sancta Sacred Kingfisher -
Lesser Coucal - Mees (1975) lists two Moderately common in October.
females and .one male collected by Ones and twos. Mangal and open
Verheijen in 1969. woodland. Mainly a winter visitor
from Australia. Mees (1975) also lists
two males collected on Pulau Dao
TYTONIDAE
by Verheijen in April 1969.
Tyto alba delicatula Barn Owl - A
male collected from a cave at Oeseli Halcyon chloris chloris Collared
Kingfisher - Moderately common
on 12 October. The first record for
in ones and twos. Mangal,
Roti.
woodland, monsoon forest and
rocky coasts. Also recorded on Batu
STR1G1DAE
Heliana and Pulau Dao.
Ninox sp. - A female collected from
open woodland at Tesabela on 17
MEROP1DAE
October. A description of this new
species - subspecies is in Merops ornatus Rainbow Bee-eater -
preparation. Uncommon in October. Small
groups (up to 13). Mainly open areas,
edges of mangal and open
CAPRIMULG1DAE
woodland. Winter visitor from
Caprimulgus affinis Savanna Nightjar Australia.
- Locally common, e.g. near Baa and
Tesabela. Nine recorded at night
H1RUND1N1DAE
along 1 km of track behind mangal
near Baa on 6 October; 12 along 100 Hirundo tahitica Pacific Swallow -
m of track on 8 October; and 6 edge Two over Pantai Baru on 5 October;
of mangal at Tesabela on 16 October. 6 over a small lake near Baa on 7
October; and 10 over a small lake 20
km SSE of Baa on 16 October. Mees
APOD1DAE
(1975) also lists a specimen collected
Aerodramus fuciphagus Edible-nest
on Pulau Dao by Verheijen on 3
Swiftlet - About 10 circling coast
April 1969.
and caves near Baa on 6 October
1990.
MOTAC1LL1DAE
Collocalia esculenta neglecta White-
bellied Swiftlet - Moderately Anthus novaeseelandiae Richard’s
common. Small flocks (up to 30) Pipit - Six on a grassy flat near Baa
over coasts, caves and limestone on 7 October and one on grassland
at Oeseli on 16 October. Also two on
pinnacles. Breeding in caves near
Oeseli. In October nests contained burnt dune on Pulau Ndana on 14
young ranging from newly hatched October. Mees (1975) lists five
females and one fledgling collected
to fully feathered.
on Pulau Dao by Verheijen in April
1969.
ALCEDIN1DAE
Alcedo atthis Common Kingfisher -
CAMPEPHAGIDAE
A male collected from a creek near
Baa on 9 October. Coracina personata personata
30
Wallacean Cuckoo-shrike - Un¬ SYLV1IDAE
common. Mainly pairs in open Cisticola juncidis fuscicapilla Zitting
woodland. Mees (1975) lists two Cisticola - Scarce. Recorded in
nestlings collected at Namo-Dale by lakeside sedges, lantana thickets in
Verheijen on 26 March 1969. open woodland, rice fields, and in
Coracina novaehollandiae Black¬ Spinifex longifolius and Pandanus on
faced Cuckoo-shrike - Scarce or beaches. Mees (1975) lists several
uncommon. In ones and twos. fledglings collected in late March.
Mainly open woodland and
monsoon thickets. Also listed by MUSC1CAP1DAE
Mees (1975) for Pulau Dao. Cyornis hyacinthinus Timor Blue
Presumably migrants from Flycatcher - Three in forest at Seda
Australia. on 30 September 1993. Previously
Lalage sueurii sueurii White-winged only known from Timor, Wetar
Triller - Uncommon. In ones and and Semau.
twos. Mainly coastal monsoon
thickets, mangroves and open ACANTH1ZIDAE
woodland. Stomach of one Gerygone inornata Plain Gerygone -
specimen contained Ficus fruits. Moderately common. Monsoon
Also listed by Mees (1975) for Pulau thickets, open woodland and
Dao. mangal. Also recorded on Pulau
Ndana. Mees (1975) lists two small
nestlings collected at Baa by
TURDIDAE Verheijen on 15 March 1969.
Saxicola caprata pyrrhonota Pied
Bush-chat - Moderately common. MONARCHIDAE
Mainly ones and twos. Open Myiagra ruficollis ruficollis Broad¬
woodland with Lontar, Ficus and billed Flycatcher - Moderately
Zizyphus. Nest with 3 feathered common. Confined to mangroves,
chicks at Oeseli on 12 October 1990. mainly stands of Rhizophora,
Also listed by Mees (1975) for Pulau Sonneratia and Ccriops. Mees (1975)
Dao. lists a female on a nest collected by
Saxicola gutturalis White-bellied Verheijen on 22 March 1969.
Bush-chat - Status uncertain. Not Rhipidura rufiventris tenkatei
recorded in 1990 or 1993 but Mees Northern Fantail - Uncommon.
(1975) lists two females collected by Single birds recorded in monsoon
ten Kate in 1891. thicket and mangal. This subspecies
Zoothera peronii Orange-banded is restricted to Roti.
Thrush - Two in a patch of Rhipidura rufifrons semicollaris
monsoon forest near Baa on 7 Rufous Fantail - Moderately
October 1990 and one in forest at common in good stands of mangal
Seda on 30 September 1993. These especially Rhizophora forest. Mees
represent the first records for Roti, (1975) lists a female collected on
previously known only from Pulau Dao by Verheijen on 14 April
Timor, Semau, Wetar, Roma, Damar 1969 as having had a nest with
and Babar. young.
31
PACHYCEPHALIDAE backed race dammermani of Sumba.
Pachycephala pectoralis calliope Philemon buceroides buceroides
Common Golden Whistler - Helmeted Friarbird - Moderately
Moderately common. Confined to common. Monsoon thicket,
mangroves especially stands of mangroves, open woodland and
Rhizophora and Sonneratia. Also Lontar woodland. Nest with 2 chicks
recorded in low vine thicket on (almost fledged) at Oeseli on 12
Pulau Ndana. October 1990. Mees (1975) also lists a
nestling male collected at Namo-
D1CAEIDAE Dale on 31 March 1969.
Dicaeum maugei maugei Red-chested
Flowerpecker - Scarce. Recorded ESTR1LD1DAE
near Baa and Oeseli. Open Amandava amandava flavidiventris
woodland. Red Avadavat - Moderately
common in cultivated areas.
NECTAR1N1IDAE Taeniopygia guttata Zebra Finch -
Nectarinia Solaris Flame-breasted Moderately common in small flocks
Sunbird - Scarce. Observed in (up to 20). Mainly cultivated areas
flowering Lantana near Baa; open Lontar groves and open woodland,
woodland at Oeseli; and low scrub also grassy flats around lakes.
at Tesabela. Lonchura punctulata Scaly-breasted
Munia - Locally moderately
ZOSTEROPIDAE common. Mainly small flocks (up to
8). Rice fields, grassland, lake edges
Zosterops citrinellus citrinellus Ashy-
and occasionally open woodland.
bellied White-eye - Common.
First records for Roti.
Monsoon thickets, mangal,
cultivated areas and open Lonchura quinticolor Five-coloured
woodland. Also recorded on Pulau Munia - Locally moderately
Ndana in vine thicket and from common. Small flocks in rice fields
Pulau Dao. and grassland. Verheijen noted a
nest with eggs near Baa on 24 March
1969 (Mees 1975).
MEL1PHAGIDAE
Lonchura molucca Black-faced
Lichmera indistincta limbata Brown
Munia - A flock of 6 birds, probably
honeyeater - Common to very
this species, flushed from open
common. Mainly mangroves and
woodland near Baa on 7 October.
patches of monsoon thicket with
Ficus, Zizyphus and kurrajong. Also Lonchura pallida Pale-headed Munia
recorded by Verheijen on Pulau - Mees (1975) lists a female collected
Dao. on Pulau Dao by Verheijen on 10
April 1969.
Myzomela erythropcephala Red¬
headed Myzomela - Scarce or rare.
Two records of two birds in vine STURN1DAE
thicket near Baa on 7 October 1990. Aplonis minor Short-tailed Starling -
The first record for Roti and Scarce. Adult male collected from
appeared to be like the blackish open woodland near Baa on 10
32