Birds from North Borneo Part 10

This species was common in the cocoa and surrounding secondary forest at Quoin Hill, but I saw it only once in the moss forest on the mountains near Tenom.

No specimen taken showed characters of or tendencies toward _C.

malabaricus suavis_. Perhaps the zone of intergradation on the east coast is farther south than Darvel Bay, where it was placed by Smythies (1960:390).

S. D. Ripley (_in_ Peters _et al._, 1964:72) considered _C.

stricklandi_ to be specifically distinct from _C. malabaricus_, and his opinion is accepted here.

_=Enicurus leschenaulti borneensis=_ Sharpe: White-crowned Forktail.

_Specimens_, 4: 12 mi. N Kalabakan: [Female] imm., October 21, 1962, MCT 3112; [Female] largest ovum 2 mm., October 27, 1962, MCT 3167; [Male], November 1, 1962, MCT 3195. Gum-Gum: [Female], September 24, 1963, ADG 282.

I saw this species only once in life, along a small, wet-weather stream. The specimens, however, were all netted in primary forest, some distance away from any stream.

Judging from measurements, these specimens are _E. l. borneensis_, although one would expect to find only _E. l. frontalis_ at elevations of 600 feet. The specimen taken by Garcia at Gum-Gum was not identified to subspecies.

_=Enicurus ruficapillus=_ Temminck: Chestnut-naped Forktail.--_Specimens_, 3: 12 mi. N Kalabakan: [Male], October 21, 1962, MCT 3113; [Male], November 4, 1962, MCT 3207; [Male], November 8, 1962, MCT 3231.

This bird was common along the upper Apas River at Quoin Hill. All specimens were taken in nets stretched across streams.

_=Zoothera interpres interpres=_ (Temminck): Chestnut-headed Ground Thrush.--_Specimens_, 9: 12 mi. N Kalabakan: [Female], October 28, 1962, MCT 3171; [Female], October 24, 1962, MCT 3138. Kalabakan: [Female], November 17, 1962, MCT 3300. Cocoa Research Station: [Female] imm., June 10, 1963, ADG 120; [Male], June 12, 1963, ADG 130; [Female] imm., June 15, 1963, ADG 141. Oil Palm Research Station: [Male], August 15, 1963, ADG 233; [Male], August 9, 1963, ADG 217; [Male], August 27, 1963, ADG 261.

The many specimens of this species taken indicate the effectiveness of mist nets in collecting birds in tropical forest. Although Smythies (1960:398) considered this bird to be rare in Borneo, I think that it is merely shy and retiring. We never saw the species in the field and the specimens were all netted. The habitat was in primary forest, except for that of MCT 3300, which was taken in dense secondary forest. The two birds from 12 miles north of Kalabakan were taken in a net stretched across a surveyor's transect. The net was set on a hilltop and the birds. .h.i.t it approximately three feet above the ground. Two of the specimens from the Cocoa Research Station are in juvenal plumage, indicating that this species probably breeds in the area.

_=Cettia whiteheadi=_ (Sharpe): Short-tailed Bush Warbler.--_Specimen_, 1: 5.5 mi. SW Tenom: [Male] testis 3 2 mm., December 21, 1962, MCT 3488.

The specimen was netted in the moss forest, in fairly heavy secondary undergrowth.

_=Prinia flaviventris=_ (Delessert): Yellow-bellied Wren-Warbler.--On September 2, 1962, I saw several of these wren-warblers in a gra.s.sy area near the golf course at Tawau.

_=Acrocephalus arundinaceus orientalis=_ (Temminck and Schlegel): Great Reed Warbler.--_Specimens_, 6: Tenom: [Female], December 31, 1962, MCT 3546; [Male], January 1, 1963, MCT 3555; [Male], January 2, 1963, MCT 3565; [Female], January 4, 1963, MCT 3575; [Female], January 3, 1963, MCT 3574; [Male], January 4, 1963, MCT 3579.

This species was common in the old paddy near Tenom, which has now grown up to gra.s.s and shrubs. I saw one individual also in shrubbery in Jesselton.

_=Phylloscopus borealis=_ (Blasius): Arctic Leaf Warbler.--I saw this leaf warbler once in dense scrub in the moss forest near Tenom.

_=Seicercus superciliaris schwaneri=_ (Blyth): White-throated Flycatcher Warbler.--_Specimens_, 2: 5.5 mi. SW Tenom: [Male] testis 4 2 mm., December 23, 1962, MCT 3510; [Female], December 23, 1962, MCT 3511.

In the moss forest this was a common bird that hopped about in the climbing bamboo and scrub.

_=Orthotomus atrogularis humphreysi=_ Chasen and Kloss: Black-necked Tailorbird.--_Specimens_, 5: Cocoa Research Station: [Male] testis 4 2 mm., 6.5 gm., August 28, 1962, MCT 2827; [Female] oviduct enlarged, brood patch, 5.5 gm., August 28, 1962, MCT 2828; [Male] testis 4 2 mm., September 26, 1962, MCT 2967; [Female], November 27, 1962, MCT 3336; [Female], November 28, 1962, MCT 3375.

These birds lived in the secondary forest-edge in dense shrubbery.

They were breeding at a time when most other birds seemed to have completed breeding activities; most had begun the post-breeding (prealternate) molt. On October 3, 1962, I saw two adults with two young in nondescript juvenal plumage with virtually no markings and a pale yellow color, unlike that of the adults.

_=Orthotomus sericeus sericeus=_ Temminck: Red-headed Tailorbird.--_Specimens_, 1: Cocoa Research Station: [Female] with large ovum, 10.8 gm., August 11, 1962, MCT 2770.

The bird was uncommon at the research station. The one specimen was from the cocoa. I saw two others in secondary growth on the edge of the forest. Possibly this species, like the preceding one, was approaching full breeding activity.

_=Orthotomus sepium borneonensis=_ Salvadori: Ashy Tailorbird.--_Specimens_, 8: Cocoa Research Station: [Female] vascular brood patch, oviduct enlarged with one possible collapsed follicle, 7.8 gm., August 22, 1962, MCT 2797; [Female] imm., 8.0 gm., August 28, 1962, MCT 2829; [Male], 8.8 gm., September 10, 1962, MCT 2896; [Male], 8.5 gm., September 10, 1962, MCT 2897; [Male] testis 5 3 mm., 8.5 gm., September 11, 1962, MCT 2901; [Female] largest ova 3 mm., 8.5 gm., September 11, 1962, MCT 2902. Tiger Estate: [Female], October 11, 1962, MCT 3000. 5.5 mi. SW Tenom: [Female], December 20, 1962, MCT 3486.

This was the most common tailorbird in the Quoin Hill area.

Indications were that the species was also breeding (see _O.

sericeus_). Besides the above localities, I observed it 12 miles north of Kalabakan. A male was heard singing on September 11, 1962; the song was simple and on an ascending scale. The specimen taken near Tenom was growing new tail feathers.

_=Rhipidura perlata=_ S. Muller: Spotted Fantail Flycatcher.--_Specimens_, 19: Cocoa Research Station: [Female] largest ova 2 mm., July 11, 1962, MCT 2618; [Male] testis 6 5 mm., 15.1 gm., July 23, 1962, MCT 2645; [Female], 13.2 gm., August 13, 1962, MCT 2776; [Female], 12.4 gm., August 20, 1962, MCT 2785; [Male], June 12, 1963, ADG 129. 12 mi. N Kalabakan: [Male], October 13, 1962, MCT 3021; [Male], October 16, 1962, MCT 3056; [Female], October 16, 1962, MCT 3057; [Male], October 16, 1962, MCT 3111; [Female], October 24, 1962, MCT 3141; [Male], October 24, 1962, MCT 3146; [Male], October 24, 1962, MCT 3148; s.e.x?, October 26, 1962, MCT 3165; [Male], October 27, 1962, MCT 3168; [Male], October 27, 1962, MCT 3169; s.e.x?, October 30, 1962, MCT 3197. Ulu Balung Cocoa Estate: [Female], July 13, 1963, ADG 198; [Female], July 24, 1963, ADG 214. Oil Palm Research Station: s.e.x?, August 15, 1963, ADG 243.

This bird was one of the most common in the lower story of the primary forest. On July 23, 1962, many males were performing courts.h.i.+p displays at Quoin Hill.

_=Rhipidura javanica longicauda=_ Wallace: Pied Fan-tailed Flycatcher.--_Specimens_, 3: Tawau: s.e.x?, September 2, 1962, MCT 2863.

Telipok: [Female], February 9, 1963, TM 28. Tuaran: s.e.x?, December 14, 1963, SCFC 19.

On Karindingen Island this was the only pa.s.serine bird seen. It was confined to the lowlands and never was seen in localities more than a few feet above sea level.

_=Culicicapa ceylonensis ceylonensis=_ (Swainson): Gray-headed Flycatcher.--_Specimens_, 6: Cocoa Research Station: [Male], 8.0 gm., August 4, 1962, MCT 2726; s.e.x?, August 20, 1962, 8.6 gm., MCT 2784. 12 mi. N Kalabakan: [Female]?, October 12, 1962, MCT 3018; [Male], October 13, 1962, MCT 3024; [Male] testis 4 4 mm., October 28, 1962, MCT 3179.

5.5 mi. SW Tenom: [Male], December 20, 1962, MCT 3483.

This bird of the primary forest and primary-secondary forest ecotone was common at all three princ.i.p.al collecting stations.

_=Muscicapa sibirica=_ Gmelin: Sooty Flycatcher.--_Specimens_, 2: Cocoa Research Station: [Male], 10.0 gm., August 25, 1962, MCT 2811; [Male], July 8, 1963, ADG 174.

Several small "brown" flycatchers which could not be a.s.signed to species were observed at Quoin Hill and Kalabakan. The specimen taken by Garcia is of interest as it was taken on a date extremely early for a migrant. Garcia's specimen (not the other) also presented problems of identification and its a.s.signment to this species is tentative.

_=Muscicapa latirostris latirostris=_ Raffles: Brown Flycatcher.--_Specimen_, 1: Cocoa Research Station: [Female], September 26, 1962, MCT 2965.

_=Muscicapa cyanomelana cyanomelana=_ Temminck: Blue and White Flycatcher.--_Specimen_, 1: Cocoa Research Station: [Male], November 27, 1962, MCT 3335.

The specimen, netted in the cocoa, apparently provides the only record from the east coast of Borneo (see Smythies, 1957:742).

_=Muscicapa concreta everetti=_ (Sharpe): White-tailed Blue Flycatcher.--_Specimens_, 6: 12 mi. N Kalabakan: [Male], October 15, 1962, MCT 3045; [Male], November 1, 1962, MCT 3199; [Female], November 8, 1962, MCT 3229; [Male], November 8, 1962, MCT 3230. 5.5 mi. SW Tenom: [Male], December 19, 1962, MCT 3465; [Female], December 23, 1962, MCT 3516.

This species seems to be confined to the primary forest, and was common at both localities listed. Smythies (1960:444) thought it resided primarily at elevations of 2,000 to 4,000 feet, occasionally occurring near sea level. This flycatcher seems to prefer the understory of the forest, where it was observed sitting on bare limbs and darting out after insects.

_=Muscicapa unicolor infuscata=_ (Hartert): Pale Blue Flycatcher.--_Specimens_, 2: 12 mi. N Kalabakan: [Male] by plumage, October 31, 1962, MCT 3189; [Female], November 12, 1962, MCT 3556.

This flycatcher was seen only in primary forest, on the above dates. The birds collected appear to provide the only definitive records for North Borneo (_cf._ Smythies, 1960:445), although Mary Norman observed the species once at Quoin Cocoa Estate on an unspecified date (Smythies, 1963:281).

_=Muscicapa turcosa rupatensis=_ Oberholser: Malaysian Blue Flycatcher.--_Specimen_, 1: Tiger Estate: [Female], November 25, 1962, MCT 3320.

_=Muscicapa caerulata caerulata=_ (Bonaparte): Large-billed Blue Flycatcher.--_Specimens_, 10: Ulu Balung Cocoa Estate: [Male], July 10, 1963, ADG 185. 12 mi. N Kalabakan: [Male], October 19, 1962, MCT 3076; [Male], October 24, 1962, MCT 3144; [Male], October 26, 1962, MCT 3160; [Female], October 28, 1962, MCT 3170; [Female], November 8, 1962, MCT 3232; [Male], November 13, 1962, MCT 3266. Oil Palm Research Station: [Female], August 12, 1963, ADG 223; [Female], August 16, 1963, ADG 244; [Male], August 19, 1963, ADG 252.

This was the most common "blue" flycatcher at Kalabakan. It was recorded at Quoin Hill only by Garcia. The record by Smythies (1963:281) seems open to question as no specimen was preserved.

_=Muscicapa venusta=_ Deignan: Bornean Blue Flycatcher.--_Specimens_, 6: Cocoa Research Station: [Male], September 24, 1962, MCT 2939; [Male], June 12, 1963, ADG 128. 12 mi. N Kalabakan: [Male], October 12, 1962, MCT 3014; [Male], October 19, 1962, MCT 3089. Oil Palm Research Station: [Female], August 10, 1963, ADG 218. Kinabatangan: s.e.x?, October 15, 1963, ADG 309.

The "blue" flycatcher of the Quoin Hill area was observed several times in the primary forest and primary forest edge. On July 14, 1962, I saw a male and a female of _M. venusta_ bathing in a shallow stream in the deep forest. They fluttered their wings in the water and then flew to a nearby fallen log and preened for several minutes.

_=Muscicapa rufigastra rufigastra=_ Raffles: Mangrove Blue Flycatcher.--_Specimen_, 1: Tuaran: [Male], December 14, 1963, SCFC 33.

_=Muscicapa dumetoria mulleri=_ Blyth: Orange-breasted Flycatcher.--_Specimens_, 5: Cocoa Research Station: [Male], 11.8 gm., July 25, 1962, MCT 2661; [Female], November 1, 1962, MCT 3198; [Male]

testis 3 2 mm., November 11, 1962, MCT 3246; [Male] testis 5 4 mm., November 28, 1962, MCT 3384. 5.5 mi. SW Tenom: [Male], December 25, 1962, MCT 3531.