6 CO CM •EC 2: L I E> RAHY OF THE U N IVLR5ITY Of ILLINOIS 590.5 FI *. 53-54 BjOLQGtt +v,;q material is re- i ntest Dote stamped u reoson$ Sssr-5'^- -- L161-O-1096 DISTRIBUTIONAL NOTES ON NEPAL BIRDS ROBERT L. FLEMING AND MELVIN A. TRAYLOR / # FIELDIANA: ZOOLOGY VOLUME 53, NUMBER 3 Published by FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY B!TY OF ILLINOIS September 13, 1968 I 1968 LIBRARY ^u^Z DISTRIBUTIONAL NOTES ON NEPAL BIRDS ROBERT L. FLEMING Field Associate AND MELVIN A. TRAYLOR Associate Curator, Birds FIELDIANA: ZOOLOGY VOLUME 53, NUMBER 3 Published by FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY SEPTEMBER 13, 1968 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 68-31879 PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BY FIELD MUSEUM PRESS Distributional Notes on Nepal Birds INTRODUCTION The specimens that are the subject of the present report were col- lected in Nepal by the senior author during the years 1962-1966. The majority were taken between May, 1964 and April, 1965 when Fleming was on leave from the United Mission to Nepal to conduct research on the ferns and birds of Nepal under a Fulbright Grant. The total number of birds collected was not large, but through careful choice of collecting localities and selection of specimens in the field, Fleming was able to add considerably to our knowledge of the distribution of Nepal birds. He succeeded in taking 76 species and subspecies that he had not previously found, and of these 24 are here recorded for the first time from the country. The known ranges of many others were extended, or apparent gaps in their ranges were filled in. The 24 forms reported for the first time from Nepal are listed below; an asterisk means that the species was not previously recorded. *Sarkidiornis melanotos Lophura leucomelana hamiltonii *Larus argentatus subsp.? Streptopelia tranquebarica tranquebarica *Tyto capensis longimembris Otus bakkamoena gangeticus *Megalaima australis cyanotis Dendrocopos canicapillus semicoronatus *Chrysocolaptes festivus festivity Hirundo daurica japonica *Delichon urbica urbica *Irena puella sikkimensis Minla strigula simlaensis Heterophasia capistrata capistrata Muscicapa superciliaris superciliaris Cettia fortipes pallidus *Acrocephalus concinens 147 148 FIELDIANA: ZOOLOGY, VOLUME 53 /x/ Da wield hur* ^ Silgarht Doti * -^ 30 \ 's \ V .-.— V— »/ *Phylloscopus tytleri Phylloscopus fuscatus weigoldi *Phylloscopus cantator cantator *Anthus spinoletta Ploceus philippensis burmanicus *Carpodacus rubicilla severtzovi Emberiza fucata fucata The accompanying map (Fig. 1) shows the districts in which Fleming collected. As noted above, these were chosen to cover areas which had not previously been thoroughly worked, and to cover the widest variety of habitats. They cover the country from the eastern to the western border, and range in altitude from 800 to 14,000 feet. The individual localities are listed in the Gazetteer. GAZETTEER Bagmati River Kathmandu Valley Baile, Silgarhi-Doti District 28° 57 ' N ; 80° 39 ' E Banduki Chowki, Ham District 27° 06' N ; 87° 59' E Baramdeo, Kanchanpur District= Barmdeo Mandi Barmdeo Mandi, Kanchanpur District . . 29° 06' N; 80° 10' E Bhadrapur, Jhapa District 26° 32' N ; 88° 05' E Bhanghat, Dandeldhura District 29° 07' N; 80° 16' E Bilauri, Kanchanpur District 28°41/N;80°24'E Chandanbari, West No. 1 28° 09' N; 85° 18' E Dana, Baglung District 28° 16' N; 83° 37' E Dandeldhura, Dandeldhura District 29° 18' N ; 80° 35' E Dhabung, West No. 1 ca. 28° 10' N; 85° 20' E Dhangarhi, Kailali District 28° 42' N; 80° 36' E Dupuk,EastNo.l 28° 03' N; 85° 36' E Ghukyo Pokhari, East No. 3 27° 53' N; 86° 42' E Gokarna Kathmandu Valley Ilam, Ham District 26° 55' N; 87° 56' E Jhawani, Chitwan District 27° 36' N; 84° 31' E Jogbura, Dandeldhura District 29° 08' N ; 80° 21' E Jomosom, Baglung District 28° 47' N ; 83° 44' E Julthal, Jhapa District 26° 30' N; 88° 00' E Kakani Kathmandu Valley Kalikathan, WestNo. 1 28° 00' N; 85° 08' E Kathmandu City Kathmandu Valley Khumjung, East No. 3 ca. 27° 50' N; 86° 43' E Lakhung Gompa, East No. 1 28° 00' N; 85° 37' E Lam Pokhari, Ilam District 27° 06' N;88°00' E Lothar Khola, Chitwan District 27°36'N;84°42'E Mahendranagar, Kanchanpur District . . 29° 01 ' N ; 80° 09 ' E Manora River Kathmandu Valley Muktinath, Baglung District 28° 48' N ; 83° 53' E Pani Pokhari Kathmandu Valley Pheakal, Ilam District 26° 53' N; 88° 04' E 149 150 FIELDIANA: ZOOLOGY, VOLUME 53 Pokhara, West No. 3 28° 14' N; 84° 00' E Rapti River, Chitwan District ca. 27° 34' N; 84° 20' E Reu-Rapti junction, Chitwan District. . . 27° 32' N; 84° 13' E Rupal, Dandeldhura District 29° 17' N; 80° 23' E Sankhu Kathmandu Valley Sardha River, Dandeldhura District .... western border Sharmathan,EastNo. 1 27° 58' N; 85° 37' E Sheopuri Kathmandu Valley Shukla, Kanchanpur District 28° 50' N; 80° 10' E Small Rapti River, Chitwan District 27° 33' N; 84° 15' E Sunaschari, Jhapa District 26° 42' N ; 88° 00' E Tarke" Ghyang, East No. 1 28° 00' N ; 84° 33' E Trisuli,WestNo. 1 27° 56' N; 84° 08' E ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A project such as ours — collecting a few specimens of every bird in Nepal — would be impossible except for sympathetic assistance on the part of His Majesty's Government. Such assistance has been accorded to us in full measure these past 18 years and to His Majesty in particular and to His Majesty's Government I am forever grateful. The easier part of our work has been done while the more difficult task is yet to be achieved. It is largely along border regions and especially those remote sections of Nepal lying north of the Hima- layan ranges that the larger number of additions to the list of Nepal birds is to be found. We were very glad to be allowed to visit the Darchula area. Members of the Department of Foreign Affairs H. M. G., Chief of Protocol, P. C. Thakur and S. Rana were exceptionally helpful. The Home Department kindly gave permission for required ammuni- tion while the Forest Department issued needed passes to forest areas. Everywhere we went, government officials, from the Anchala Desh to the lowest ranking forest guard, received us cordially. It is difficult to express adequate thanks to all who aided us these past years. We must also thank the Government of India for granting us permission to travel through Almora District along the western bor- der of Nepal. What takes 12 or 14 days of difficult trekking in Nepal, can be negotiated by bus in as many hours. We are grateful to the Government of India for letting us take the Pithoragarh route to get to and from northwestern Nepal. Great is my debt to the United States Educational Foundation of Nepal, through Mr. Aryal, for a Fulbright grant (1 May 1964 - 31 April 1965) to carry on a full research program. The results tabu- lated in this paper are largely due to this generous award. At the same time, I thank the Methodist Mission Board in New York and Mr. Henry Lacy, India Secretary, who allowed me to take a year's leave, and the Executive Committee of the United Mission to Nepal for approving this action. 151 152 FIELDIANA: ZOOLOGY, VOLUME 53 Mention must be made of some of the persons who have gone out of their way to assist us. In the Rapti Dun, Kirti Man Tamang offered us housing and transportation to various points of interest. Mr. John Coapman, who was beginning work on Tiger Tops Hotel, afforded Dr. Robert E. Berry and me an opportunity to check on bird populations of western Rapti Dun. Forest officials, D. B. Khatri and his colleague, K. B. Karkee, at Dhangarhi, provided a place to stay, jeep, and porters for our party. The Peace Corps kindly lent our "binoculars man," David Chesmore while Dr. Ronald O'Connor and his brother, Terry, offered their services as medical officer and cook. Swami Vivikananda Swarasati, of Rupal, gave us a fine camp site and called porters for us. Bara Hakim Lakan Lai Amataya at Dandeldhura assisted us when he could, while Dr. Kate Young and Miss Andrew were hostesses at their dispensary a few miles away. Padam Bahadur Singh gave us food and shelter when we unexpectedly turned up in Malaketi with- out any of our porters. Again in Central Nepal, people were very helpful. Dr. L. O'Han- lon arranged for porters through Sheti Gurung and gave us food and lodging in Pokhara; Mrs. Gerald Turner entertained us upon our return. Old acquaintances, the Sher Chans of Tukuche, befriended us at Sikha, while at Dana, Mangal Singh made us at home in his house where we left some of our luggage during the climb to Muk- tinath. Deva Nara Singh was a fine guide, as he had been 14 years before. My colleagues, Dr. Denis Roche, who was my effective med- ical officer, Masters Richard Friedericks, John Lindsey, and Ronald Colman, who enlivened the party, and our son Bob all made up an excellent trekking team to West No. 3. Our visits to both West No. 1 and East No. 1 were made easier by the help of Mr. Agarwal, Chief Engineer of the Trisuli Project, Mr. Richard Willan, Forest Adviser to H. M. G., P. Lama, my medical officer and my ever-faithful "Kazi." On our visit to far East Nepal we met Karmachariya Thakur Das whom we had known years before, Bhairab Prasad Achariya and his son; Captain Laxman Chandra Singh, all of Bhadrapur. Forest Officer Tulsi Ram (also a poet) was of great assistance, as were Bert Despain, Don Carter, and James B. Hunt, Jr. and the forest officer at Ham, S. Shresta, all of whom had a part in making our problems lighter. These and numerous other officials and local residents ex- tended their kindness to us. FLEMING AND TRAYLOR: NOTES ON NEPAL BIRDS 153 G. B. Gurung contributed to our collection as did Dinesh Shum- shere, J. B. Rana and Lachman Shah. Sri Dhariya Shumshere, as always, helped us at any time. I must give most hearty thanks to my hunter-skinner who accom- panied me the year of my Fulbright grant, Hari Sharan Nepali (Kazi). He is a knowledgeable bird man, a careful shot, an indefatigable trekker, and an excellent skinner. He acted as our liason officer and interpreter. Finally, it was a pleasure to have our son, Bob, accom- pany me on three of the longer trips. He would collect at the higher altitudes which required the more strenuous climbing. And now with his Ph.D. in zoology (ornithology) I suspect he will continue to climb Himalayan hills for some time to come. R. L. Fleming SYSTEMATIC LIST The nomenclature and order of families and species follows that of Ripley's (1961) Synopsis of the Birds of India and Pakistan. Bis- was' (1960-1963) Birds of Nepal, with its careful summation of pre- vious work, has been of inestimable assistance to us in our studies. The field notes under each species are Fleming's and the taxonomic notes are Traylor's. Phalacrocorax niger (Vieillot). Little or Pygmy Cormorant. Jhapa District, 1 mile north of Bhadrapur: 1 d\ 1 9 ; January 11, 1965. A dozen or more birds were on the Mechi River, eastern border of Nepal. The species is not common in Nepal. We had seen a single bird on a small stream in western Jhapa District as well as one some years earlier on a forested stream at Bilauri in Kanchanpur District, far western Nepal. These are the first specimens since the time of Hodgson. Egretta intermedia palleuca Deignan. Smaller Egret. Chitwan District, Reu-Rapti, 1,000 feet: 1 9 ; August 24, 1964. Of the four species of white egrets in Nepal, this one can be dis- tinguished by its thin body and a rather long, angular neck. Several birds fed at intervals along the shallows of the Rapti River, sometimes three or four together and again singly. They were occasionally back in fields bordering the river in areas which were grassy and damp. It was rather difficult to approach them. They seemed to be the least abundant of the egrets. Ixobrychus cinnamomeus (Gmelin). Chestnut Bittern. Kathmandu Valley, Pani Pokhari, 4,300 feet: 1 favillaceus. FLEMING AND TRAYLOR: NOTES ON NEPAL BIRDS 173 Pericrocotus roseus roseus (Vieillot). Rosy Minivet. Kanchanpur District, 5 miles east of Barmdeo Mandi, 800 feet: 1 & ; March 30, 1965. Dandeldhura District, 2 miles south of Banghat, 1,000 feet: 1 9 ; April 5, 1965. Dandeldhura District, 4 miles north of Jogbura, 2,500 feet: 1 d" ; April 7, 1965. The first of our rosy minivets were in the lowlands in early spring. Two were in one group and four in another. They preferred thin, dry forest where they kept on the move for insects. A few weeks later a small group was among low trees along a stream at 2,500 feet, and a second in a similar situation at 4,500 feet. Our only specimens have come from far western Nepal, but Dr. Diesselhorst found them in the forests of Rapti Dun, central Nepal. Irena puella sikkimensis Whistler and Kinnear. Fairy Bluebird. Jhapa District, 14 miles northwest of Sunischare, 1,100 feet: 1 d" ; January 1, 1965. Jhapa District, 13 miles north northwest of Bhadrapur, 900 feet: 1 9 ; February 6, 1965. The fairy bluebird, for which we had been looking for a number of years, occasionally flew over our camp in twos, or threes. We found them at two other places in far eastern Nepal also, from about 900 feet to 1,100 feet altitude. Our birds kept to the taller trees, some- times resting on dead branches near the tree tops. A loud two-note call could be heard from some distance. This was the first record of this species from Nepal; it was previously known from as far west as Darjeeling. Pycnonotus cafer bengalensis Blyth. Redvented Bulbul. Dandeldhura District, 4 miles east of Banghat; 1,200 feet: 1 9 ; April 6, 1965. A common bird throughout the terai and foothills of Nepal, it was found in the vicinity of cultivations, especially where there might be fruit available. The call is a short, somewhat varied series of notes. Often found in pairs, bulbuls enjoy each other's company and often perch close together on a curving bamboo or near the tops of trees, directing their attention to each other in a most attentive manner. A few of the west Nepal birds, including this worn specimen, approach the paler intermedins of Kumaon in color. 174 FIELDIANA: ZOOLOGY, VOLUME 53 Pomatorhinus schisticeps schisticeps Hodgson. Slatyheaded Scimitar Babbler. Jhapa District, 17 miles north northwest of Bhadrapur, 1,000 feet: 1 c? ; February 8, 1965. This appears to be the first record of this species from far eastern Nepal. We had collected it in western Nepal at slightly higher alti- tudes where it was much more abundant. Garrulax squamatus (Gould). Bluewinged Laughing Thrush. Kathmandu Valley, Sheopuri, 6,800 feet: 1 ; July 28, 1964. East No. 1, 11 miles northeast of Tarke Ghyang, 12,900 feet: 1 juv.; July 29, 1964. Baglung District, 3 miles above Dana, 7,000 feet: 1 d" ; Decem- ber 25, 1963. Our juvenals of this species were found on open, grassy hillsides in the vicinity of a stream. There were also a few adult birds and all of them spent much time on the ground. Zoothera dixoni (Seebohm). Longtailed Mountain Thrush. East No. 1, 8 miles northeast of Tarke Ghyang, 11,500 feet: 1 juv. cf ; August 2, 1964. We found this young mountain thrush in a juniper forest north of Kathmandu at 11,500 feet. There were several scattered over a dis- tance of a mile or so; they fed on the ground in the vicinity of streams, then rested in low trees. This is apparently the first authenticated breeding record for Nepal. Turdus viscivorus bonapartei Cabanis. Mistle Thrush. Dandeldhura District, 4 miles east of Rupal, 7,300 feet: 1 9 ; April 9, 1965; 3 miles south of Rupal, 7,000 feet: 1 c? ; April 10, 1965. We saw the mistle thrush several times in western Nepal in oak forests at 7-7,500 feet. They spend some time on the ground and when disturbed, fly within the heavily-leafed oak trees. Several years before a single bird perched high in a pine tree in Doti District, west- ern Nepal, and was rather wary. This species is a solitary bird. It seems to be much more abundant in the Himalayas farther northwest of Nepal, and these are the first records for Nepal since Hodgson. Troglodytes troglodytes nipalensis Blyth. Wren. East No. 1, 10 miles northeast of Tarke Ghyang, 13,000 feet: 1 juv. 9 ; July 28, 1964. This specimen is from central Nepal where it inhabited a stone wall at 13,200 feet. There were two or three others in the vicinity 29 9 49 30,31 13.5, 14 lcf 49 32 13.5 19 47 27 13 3d"c? 50-53 31 14-14.5 59 9 47-51 27-30 12.5-14 184 FIELDIANA: ZOOLOGY, VOLUME 53 but they always seemed to be solitary. One can usually hear the call, a sharp "tzit" before he can detect a tiny, dark object emerging from between rocks. We have re-examined our wrens from Patale to see if they might be kinneari Biswas (1955, p. 87) ; Khumbu, type locality of kinneari, is only 50 miles northeast of Patale. When specimens from Patale are compared to typical nipalensis from Tukche and Sikkim, there are no differences in color or size. Comparative measurements (in mm.) are: Wing Tail Bill Patale 3^0" 51-53 32-33 14-15 Tukche Sikkim These specimens are all nipalensis. If kinneari is indeed valid, it must have a restricted distribution. Prunella collaris nipalensis (Blyth). Alpine Accentor. Baglung District, 5 miles above Dana, 8,500 feet: 1 d" ; Decem- ber 18, 1963. Baglung District, 2 miles east of Muktinath, 15,000 feet: 1 d"; December 20, 1963. Baglung District, 3 miles east southeast of Jomosom, 10,000 feet: 1 9 ; December 22, 1963. East No. 1, Dupuk, 11 miles northeast of Tarke Ghyang, 14,000 feet: 1 d\ 1 9 ; July 28, 1964. The alpine accentor has quite an altitudinal spread in winter. In the Kali Gandak area of western Nepal in December we found one in the top of a leafless tree near Dana at 8,000 feet. A little later that same month they were at Jomoson, 10,000 feet, and Muktinath, 15,000 feet. In East No. 1, in July, a pair inhabited large rocks at 14,000 feet. One, then the other would fly down into green grass then across a wide ravine from one rock cliff to another. Their call was a series of six notes, the first four a little higher each time and slurred upward, then ending with a short "tee, dee." We had pre- viously collected this bird as low as 7,000 feet near Mussoorie, U.P., India, in winter, but these were our first records from Nepal. FLEMING AND TRAYLOR: NOTES ON NEPAL BIRDS 185 Parus rubidiventris beavani (Jerdon). Rufousbellied Crested Tit. Ham District, Lam Pokhari, 9,900-11,000 feet: 2 d" ; January 23- 26, 1965. This eastern race of the rufousbellied crested tit was taken along the border between 10,000 and 11,000 feet. One flock was in the tops of rhododendrons while others preferred fir and hemlock forests 90 feet high. Birds usually traveled in small groups of a half-dozen and were only occasionally seen in those areas. Parus modestus modestus (Burton). Yellowbrowed Tit. Dandeldhura District, 4 miles south of Rupal, 7,000 feet: 1 9 ; April 9, 1965. The little yellowbrowed tit has proved to be more common than at first believed, and is now recorded from throughout the country. Almost always in company with a mixed party of willow warblers, tits and others, it is easily overlooked. They act much like warblers without the wing-flicking tendencies. There are several calls, one of which is like the red-headed tit. Our specimen was in an oak in a heavy forest at about 7,000 feet, along with a dozen other birds. In the hills around Kathmandu, one runs onto this species quite often. Aegithalos iouschistos iouschistos (Hodgson). Rufousfronted Tit. Baglung District, 5 miles above Dana, 8,500 feet: 2 unsexed; December 21, 1963. Since finding the rufousfronted tit in East No. 2, we have come across it on the Kosi-Gandak watershed north of Kathmandu and now in the hills along the western bank of the Kali Gandak River in Baglung District, the westernmost extension of its range. There were several in the oak forests at 8,500 feet where they worked through the middle of trees. These confiding birds are interesting to watch as their pale little heads pop out from among green oak leaves. Sitta castanea castanea Lesson. Chestnutbellied Nuthatch. Kanchanpur District, Mahendranagar, 800 feet: 1 d" ; March 31, 1965. A bird of the terai, this nuthatch was in a large tree in a thin cut- over forest near a stream. One saw nuthatches occasionally at this altitude, 800 feet above sea level, and they were usually solitary. The range of castanea in Nepal is limited to the western terai, south of the Siwalik Hills. A male from Jogbura, only 15 miles north- 186 FIELDIANA: ZOOLOGY, VOLUME 53 east of Mahendranagar but in the Duns behind the Siwaliks, is typ- ical almorae, the race of the western Himalayas. In western Nepal and apparently in Kumaon (see Vaurie, 1950, p. 7) this ecological separation is very rigid, but in central Nepal almorae spreads out into the terai and castanea is not known to occur. In peninsular India, where the large billed almorae does not occur, castanea is found in both lowlands and hills. Sitta castanea subsp. Chestnutbellied Nuthatch. Jhapa District, 3 miles north of Bhadrapur, 500 feet : 1 9 ; Janu- ary 9, 1964. A common bird of the sal forests of eastern Nepalese lowlands, this nuthatch was almost never found alone but in mixed companies of forest birds. One could often hear the nuthatch first and, in some cases, it seemed to pilot the group from one tree to another. This bird probably belongs to the Sikkim race cinnamoventris, but it is not possible to distinguish the females. Anthus trivialis trivialis (Linnaeus). Tree Pipit. Dandeldhura District, 4 miles south of Rupal, 7,000 feet: 1 9 ; April 9, 1965. Dandeldhura District, 16 miles north of Rupal, 5,800 feet: 1 cf; April 14, 1965. The tree pipit seemed to be more common in far western Nepal than in other parts of the country. Several were in fields at 7,000 feet in Dandeldhura District early in April and a few days later we saw a small flock of them on the forest floor at 5,800 feet. These were probably all passage migrants. Anthus spinoletta (Linnaeus). Water or Alpine Pipit. West No. 3, Pokhara, 3,000 feet: 1 rf1; December 31, 1963. A winter visitor to Nepal, the water pipit was present in an empty rice field bordering a stream in the upper end of Pokhara Valley, western Nepal. There were a number of skylarks, pipits and bush chats in that area, which was mostly open fields and sandy stretches, with little vegetation and almost no trees. Ridges rose on either side of the valley which was about a mile wide. This is the first record of spinoletta from Nepal. We are unable to identify it to subspecies with any degree of certainty. FLEMING AND TRAYLOR: NOTES ON NEPAL BIRDS 187 Anthus sylvanus (Hodgson). Upland Pipit. Dandeldhura District, 3 miles north of Rupal: 1