The birds of the Togian islands, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract

We carried out surveys on the Togian islands, situated between the northern and eastern peninsulas of Sulawesi, Indonesia, during 1996– 2002, visiting all but one of the seven largest islands and two offshore islets. A total of 72 species was previously known for the islands, based on collections in 1871 and 1939 and some observations from the 1980s. We recorded 86 species including 34 new records, giving a total of 106 species for the islands. We regard as erroneous the records of five species previously listed for the islands: Yellow-crested Cockatoo Cacatua sulphurea, Blue-eared Kingfisher Alcedo meninting, Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker Dendrocopos temminckii, Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis and Grey-sided Flowerpecker Dicaeum celebicum. The 20 species known only from earlier records include a number assumed to be resident and thus expected to be found. Five rails and four owls, (including a new species, Togian Hawk Owl Ninox burhani) were recorded, families previously unknown from the Togian islands. Three subspecies endemic to the Togian islands are currently recognised: Brown Cuckoo Dove Macropygia amboinensis atrata, Golden Bulbul Alophoixus affinis aureus and Sulawesi Babbler Trichastoma celebense togianense. However, we found two additional possible new species and several possible undescribed subspecies, suggesting a greater degree of avian endemism in these islands than hitherto known. 50 cm. It is dominated by ‘manggis hutan’ Garcinia dulcis (Rubiaceae), ‘lasi’ Andinauclea flagifolia (Clusiaceae) and ‘ulos’ Streblus ilicifolius (Moraceae). Forest fires in April 1998, following 18 months with virtually no rain, burnt two-thirds of Malenge (A. Dodoa verbally 1999), but it seems that both forest and wildlife in Malenge are quickly recovering from the fire impacts (A. Dodoa verbally 1999; MI personal observations 2000, 2001). On Togian island, logging activities have left very few trees whose diameter exceeds 50 cm, and the remnant areas are characterised as ‘moderately disturbed’ (Sidiyasa 2000). However, many fruiting trees of economic value remain extensive, such as ‘cempedak’ Artocarpus integer, durian Durio zibethinus, ‘rao’ Dracontomelon dao, ‘tea’ Artocarpus elastica, mango Mangifera foetida, and aren palm Arenga pinnata. Secondary forest trees that are commonly encountered include ‘kole’ Alphitonia excelsa, ‘ndolia’ Cananga odorata, Anthocephalus chinensis, Duabanga moluccana, Alstonia spectabilis, Mallotus spp., and Macaranga spp. Two species that often dominate secondary forest on Sulawesi, Alphitonia incana and Trichospermum morotaense, were found to be abundant. Stands of Duabanga moluccana were frequent in valleys, often co-occurring with Nauclea orientalis and Octomeles moluccana (Sidiyasa 2000).