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The stratification of passerines in Fijian forests

Notornis, 36 (4), 267-279

N.P. Langham (1989)

Article Type: Paper

The vertical and horizontal zonation and foraging habits of 17 Fijian forest passerines are described. Mist-netting showed that five species, island thrush, Fiji shrikebill, blue-crested broadbill, spotted fantail and orange-breasted honeyeater, contributed to 60% of the captures. These were the five main lower-zone species on Viti Levu, but only two and three on Vanua Levu and Taveuni, respectively, where other species occupied this zone. The species foraging in the middle and upper zones were more similar between the islands with two species of white-eye, two or three species of honeyeater, Polynesian starling and Vanikoro broadbill predominating. Horizontal zonation showed that most species occupied the middle and outer zones, except for the Fiji shrikebill. Foraging strategies revealed that the spotted fantail and the Vanikoro broadbill were the main flycatchers, followed by the golden whistler and slaty flycatcher. The main gleaning species were the Fiji shrikebill and the silktail, most other species being foliage-searchers.

Subspeciation in the red-tailed tropicbird

Notornis, 36 (1), 39-49

M.K. Tarburton (1989)

Article Type: Paper

This study shows that the red-tailed tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) has a gradual clinal increase in the intensity of the rose-pink suffusion, egg size, culmen length and wing length in breeding populations between Kure Atoll in the northern Pacific and the Kermadec Islands in the southern Pacific. The illusion that birds from this cline comprise three subspecies has long been accepted because the large range of latitude that each subspecies had been arbitrarily given resulted in significant differences in mean measurements. However, as neither the northern rothschildi nor the southern roseotincta are clearly separable from melanorhynchos in the centre of the cline, they must all be one subspecies. Because the mean measurements of the nominate “subspecies” are nor significantly different from those of birds from similar latitudes in the Pacific cline, or from westralis in the eastern Indian Ocean, there is no valid reason for distinguishing any subspecies in the red-tailed tropicbird.

The behaviour of bitterns and their use of habitat

Notornis, 36 (2), 89-95

A.J. Whiteside (1989)

Article Type: Paper

Australasian bitterns (Botaurus stellaris poiciloptilus) were studied in the Whangamarino wetlands in the autumn and winter of 1986. A seasonal difference in the time of feeding was noted, as well as a local movement to feeding grounds. A decrease in the number of birds seen in the study area in winter seemed to be related to the duck hunting season and high water levels. A mixture of water purslane and willow weed on a wet substrate was the preferred habitat. “Surveillance posture” seems a better description of the traditional “freeze” behaviour. The birds gave this response even when there was no apparent danger.

Forest bird communities in Western Samoa

Notornis, 35 (2), 117-128

M. Bellingham; A. Davis (1988)

Article Type: Paper

The birds of Upolu and Savai’i, Western Samoa, were surveyed in August 1984. Birds were counted along a 2 km transect in O le Pupu-Pu’e National Park and 5-minute bird index counts were used in upland and lowland Savai’i. There was a significant difference in the composition and density of bird communities between partly logged and unmodified tava (Pomeria pinnata) forest. The composition of bird communities differed at varying altitudes both in the national park and in Savai’i. There were more species at higher altitudes on Savai’i, and rare species were recorded at only the higher altitudes on Upolu and Savai’i. The relative abundance and occurrence of threatened bird species were noted, and possible sightings of puna’e, the Samoan woodrail, in upland Savai’i were recorded.
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