New bird Species in the 21st century

Newly discovered birds 2001

Bukidnon Woodcock
Scolopax bukidnonensis	LEAST CONCERN
Bukidnon Woodcock Scolopax bukidnonensis is known from central and northern Luzon and four mountains on Mindanao. Specimens were obtained in the 1960s but were incorrectly identified as Eurasian Woodcock S. rusticola and it was not until birds were sighted and heard in 1993 on Mt Kitanglad, Bukidnon Province, Mindanao, and a specimen later obtained there that the species was recognised as distinct. The new species appears to locally common. Its montane forests are in extremely rugged terrain that is not conducive to farming and have few commercial trees for logging, so the species does not seem to be of immediate conservation concern.
Scolopax bukidnonensis differs from the most similar species, S. celebensis, in having the notches in the flight feathers darker Cinnamon-Rufous (almost pale pinkish buff in S. celebensis); by the less extensive pale pinkish buff mottling on the wing-coverts; by the throat and breast Cinnamon and belly dark Pale Pinkish Buff(throat, breast and belly are bright cinnamon clay in S. celebensis), with broader barring on the lower throat, breast and flanks, and having barring on the centre of belly and undertail-coverts. Kennedy, Robert S.; Fisher, Timothy H.; Harrap, Simon C.B.; Diesmos, Arvin C: & Manamtam, Arturo S. (2001): A new species of woodcock from the Philippines and a re-evaluation of other Asian/Papuasian woodcock Forktail 17(1): 1-12.). Download article
Mekong Wagtail
Motacilla samveasnae	NEAR THREATENED
Motacilla samveasnae is known, in the breeding season, from a substantial length of the River Mekong and several of its tributaries in Cambodia, extending upstream from Kampi into southern Laos, and there is a record from the non-breeding season in Thailand. In optimal habitat, linear densities may reach many pairs per kilometre, and its numbers are certainly healthy in Cambodia. It breeds in riverine "channel mosaic" habitat, typically in broad, lowland rivers, where the streambed is exposed to provide rocky outcrops and bushland, gravel shoals and/or sandbars, tufted grasses and annual dicotyledons.
Mekong Wagtail most closely resembles the widely disjunct African Pied Wagtail M. aguimp, though it differs in several minor respects, particularly wing pattern, and vocally it is highly distinct. Moreover, mitochondrial DNA comparisons show that divergence between Mekong Wagtail and African Pied Wagtail is greater than between any of the other black-and-white wagtail taxa, and it also exhibits clear differences in moult strategy and habitat choice. It is highly distinctive, being the only black-and-white wagtail in South-East Asia exhibiting the adult/first-adult plumage character combination of a black forehead, lores and ear coverts, striking white supercilia, a white throat and white neck patch. (J. W. Duckworth et al. A new species of wagtail from the lower Mekong basin Bulletin B.O.C. 121, 3 (2001): 152-182)
Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush
Garrulax konkakinhensis	VULNERABLE
Garrulax konkakinhensis is known only from Mount Kon Ka Kinh, one of the highest peaks in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. It is likely to occur to the north in adjacent Kon Tum province, and could conceivably occur in Laos, because forest habitat within the species' known altitudinal range extends across the provincial and international borders. Three specimens were collected there in April 1999, including one from a group of at least three individuals.
The three specimens were collected between 1,600 and 1,700 m, in the undergrowth of primary upper montane evergreen forest, dominated by tree species from the families Fagaceae, Lauraceae, Magnoliaceae, Hamamelidaceae, Theaceae, Ericaceae, Myrtaceae and Araliaceae. On Mount Kon Ka Kinh, from c.1,600 m to the summit (at 1,748 m), the forest canopy height was c.10-15 m, with 20 m trees in flatter areas of the summit plateau. The species may occur at elevations below 1,600 m, but determination of this was difficult because the species was not heard making any vocalisations during March and April. The forests within Kon Ka Kinh Nature Reserve comprise a mosaic of primary and seral forest formations, and, on the evidence of shifting cultivation, indicate a long history of human utilisation. The forest around the type locality was being logged for large, emergent Fokienia hodginsii and in many places the canopy was broken and there were many clearings. Its presence in logged forest indicates some tolerance of disturbed habitat. (Eames, J. C. and Eames, C. (2001) A new species of Laughingthrush (Passeriformes: Garrulacinae) from the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Bull. B.O.C. 121 (1): 10-23).
Fallas' Petrel
Pterodroma occulta	DATA DEFICIENT
A new species of petrel has been described, based on specimens collected at sea. The Vanuatu Petrel Pterodroma occulta, is closely related to the White-necked Petrel Pterodroma cervicalis but is smaller, with a longer tail and different primary colours. It is presumed to breed in the Banks Islands or elsewhere in northern Vanuatu and has reached north-east Australia, so it is likely to be a transequatorial migrant.
This species, newly described and named here as Pterodroma occulta, is close to P. cervicalis but differs mainly in its smaller size, relatively longer tail and entirely dark grey exposed primaries ventrally. The latter character may assist identification at sea, though 2 of 21 P. cervicalis studied (9.5%) were similar. Its breeding places are still unreported, though presumed to be in northern Vanuatu. Both this new species and White-naped Petrels, P. cervicalis, evidently occur in eastern Australian seas. This species resembles the White-necked Petrel, Pterodroma cervicalis, but is slightly smaller at 40 cm length and 300-350 g weight. It has a black cap, white rear neck, dark grey back, wings and tail, and a darker rump. The underparts are white with dark bases to the primary feathers. Like White-necked, the upperparts of worn birds become darker. (Pterodroma occulta, M.J.Imber and A.J.D.Tennyson,2001, Emu,101(2),p.126.).
Chestnut-capped Piha
Lipaugus weberi	ENDANGERED
Lipaugus weberi is confined to a small area of forest (c.800 km2) on the northern slope of the Central Andes in Colombia1, where it is known from five locations. The area lies between the Porce and Nechí river valleys, where it is presently known from four localities in the Municipality of Anorí1. The species is locally common at the known localities in Anorí, especially between 1,600 and 1,750 m. It is much less common near Amalfi, presumably because the forests in this area have been subjected to exploitation for a longer period of time.
It inhabits primary pre-montane, wet forest between 1,500 and 1,820 m. It has been seen at forest borders and in secondary vegetation near mountain gorges, but not usually within secondary forest. Birds occur singly within the midstorey to Lower canopy, and are sometimes observed in mixed-species flocks in the higher levels of the canopy. It feeds on small to medium-sized berries and, occasionally, large invertebrates. The Central Andes have undergone almost complete ecological change - surviving forested areas are now highly fragmented and isolated. Pre-montane forest cover is estimated to be 3-4% of its original extent1, and the species is presumed to have been extirpated from a large part of its range. Forest loss is driven by mining and agriculture, in particular coffee, plantain and cattLe. Moreover, current high rates of colonization will increase deforestation in the area. High acidity and poor soil drainage reduce vegetation succession and accentuate problems of soil erosion. Afforestation with exotic species is an increasing problem in the area. (Cuervo, Andres, Salaman, P., Donegan, T.M. & Ochoa, J.M. 2001. A new species of piha (Cotingidae: Lipaugus) from the Cordillera Central of Colombia. Ibis 143: 353-368).
chapada flycatcher
Suiriri islerorum	LEAST CONCERN
The Chapada Flycatcher is superficially similar to Campo Suiriri Suiriri suiriri affinis but is readily identified by its vocalisations, especially the distinctive male-female duets, bill size and shape and colour of the tail. The species previously had been confused with Suiriri suiriri affinis, with which it is syntopic at multiple sites. The new species was first identified by voice. Although cryptically similar to S. s. affinis in many respects, the new species is readily identified by all vocalizations, bill size, color pattern of the tail, and shape of the central rectrices. Most distinctive are the male-female duets, which are accompanied by dramatic wing-lifting displays not performed by any congeners. The new species and S. s. affinis do not respond to one another's vocalizations.
Locally distributed in cerrado and campos habitats throughout much of central Brazil, south of the Amazon and east of the Rio Madeira, and at least sparingly to depto. Santa Cruz, eastern Bolivia. Most confirmed records are from Mato Grosso, Brazil, with scattered specimens east and north to the Brazilian states of Para, Goias, Tocantins, and Maranhao. The westernmost records are from Campo do Estanho, Amazon- as, Brazil, and Parque Nacional Noel Kempff Mercado, depto. Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Undoubtedly occurs more extensively within the area bounded by those records, but probably overlooked due to morphological similarity to S. s. affinis. Zimmer, K.J.; Whittaker, A. & Oren, D.C. (2001): A cryptic new species of flycatcher (Tyrannidae: Suiriri) from the cerrado region of central South America Auk 118: 56-78
Mishana Tyrannulet
Zimmerius villarejoi	VULNERABLE
Rather non-descript greenish-yellow tyrannulet. Uniform olive upperparts. Most of underparts also olive, but this grades into yellow on the belly and undertail coverts. Wings dull black with faint olive cast and fringed (along with median and greater coverts) with yellow. Similar spp. Differs from sympatric Slender-footed Tyrannulet Z. gracilipes in having pinkish lower mandible. Voice Song is a simple series of two to four evenly spaced notes, the first being longest and each subsequent note being shorter. Zimmerius villarejoi is known only from an extremely limited habitat type in the Río Nany drainage near Iquitos, Loreto, and a 1912 specimen taken from Moyobamba, San Martín, Peru. It is confined to 'varillal' habitat - poorly drained, 12-18 m tall forest on white sand soils. The species's distribution seems to coincide with that of two or three tree species.
It is uncommon and very patchily distributed. The diet includes small arthropods and fruit, notably the berries of the mistletoe Oryctanthus alveolatus. Most of the known range is within a protected area. However, the limited extent of appropriate varillal habitat, and the continuing extraction of trees for building materials and posts, means that much of the population is threatened or at least compromised. Outside the protected area, the few varillales in which the species is known to occur (on the upper Rio Nanay) are completely unprotected, and are currently being heavily exploited for timber and other products. Alonso, J.A. & Whitney, B.M. (2001) A new Zimmerius tyrannulet (Aves: Tyrannidae) from white sand forests of northern Amazonian Peru Wilson Bulletin 113: 1-9
Lulu's Tody-tyrant
Poecilotriccus luluae	VULNERABLE
Small, well marked tyrant flycatcher. The most striking feature is the rich chestnut-red hood (except small white throat). Hind neck band is grey/black and remaining upperparts are green, with coverts, tertials and secondaries fringed yellow. Below the hood is a narrow, white breast band, and the remainder of the underparts are bright yellow. Poecilotriccus luluae is known from six localities in north-east Peru: at Wicsocunga, near Lonya Grande, in the northernmost extension of the Cordillera Central; two sites in the Cordillera de Colán (30 km east of Florida, and south-east of Bagua); and three areas to the east in an unnamed range in the Eastern Andes (the García area north-east of Abra Patricia; 6 km south-east of Corosha; and 33 km north-east of Ingenio).
It has been recorded between 1,800-2,550 m elevation, and occurs in shrubby second growth, bamboo thickets and forest undergrowth, possibly with a preference for edge habitat (created by logging or roads in some case), but with occurrence also in bamboo thickets within undisturbed forest3. It forages almost exclusively through sally-gleans, mostly to the undersurface of live leaves, and is nearly always encountered in pairs. It has been reported as fairly common to the east of Abra Patricia. The remaining forests within the documented range of the species are being cleared for timber, agriculture and to secure land ownership, particularly rapidly on the Cordillera de Colán (where local people estimated that all remaining forest might be cleared in the ensuing decade). The forest near Abra Patricia is under increased threat since the road was rebuilt in 1998. However, the species may benefit from edge habitat created by timber clearing. Johnson, N.K. & Jones, R.E. (2001) A new species of tody-tyrant (Tyrannidae: Poecilotriccus) from northern Peru Auk 118: 334-341.