Birds of Nusa Tenggara islands 
165 
Ardea purpurea Purple Heron 
Sumbawa I. - Two at a freshwater lake at Meraran on 
13 May 1988 and two at Lake Taliwang, east of Maluk 
on 9 August 1993. 
Ardea novaehollandiae White-faced Heron 
Sumbawa 1. - Moderately common, in ones, twos and 
small groups (up to 8) occasionally larger aggregations 
(up to 50). Recorded at Meraran, Lake Taliwang, Babar, 
Selah Legium, Belo, Dompu and Dahu. Rice fields, 
freshwater lakes and creeks. 
Moyo 1. - One on coast at Brang Kua on 10 November 
1988. 
Egretta alba Great Egret 
Sumbawa 1. - One at a swamp near Empang on 20 
May and three on a mudflat near Bima on 19 October 
1988. The first records for Sumbawa. 
Egretta garzetta Little Egret 
Sumbawa 1. - Seven on mudflats at Sape on 21 August 
1993. The first record for Sumbawa. 
Egretta sacra Reef Egret 
Sumbawa I. - Three near Maluk on 9 August and one 
at Sape on 21 August 1993. All grey phase. 
Moyo I. - One on SW coast and two on reefs at 
Tanjung Pasir in November 1988. Also groups of four to 
five at Amanwana Bay from 1992-1995. Both white 
phase and dark phase birds recorded. 
Bubulcus ibis Cattle Egret 
Sumbawa I. - Locally common but generally 
uncommon. One in rice field at Batu Tering on 8 May 
1988 and at least 1000 at Lake Taliwang on 9 August 
1993. 
Ardeola speciosa Javan Pond Heron 
Sumbawa I. - Common in lowland wetlands. Small 
groups and loose flocks (up to 300). Recorded at 
Meraran, Lake Taliwang, Belo, Dompu, Waworada, 
Dahu, Sape and Sumbawa Besar. Rice fields, swamps, 
lakes, along rivers and mudflats. 
Moyo I. - Moderately common. Small groups (up to 
8 ). Recorded at Sebotok and Brang Kua. Mainly rice 
fields and mangal. 
Butorides striatus Striated Heron 
Sumbawa 1. - Moderately common in mangal at Teluk 
Santong in May and in dense creekside vegetation at 
Dahu in October 1988, also in lowland riverine forest at 
Selah Legium in August 1993. 
Moyo I. - Common to moderately common. Recorded 
at Sebotok, Brang Kua and Tanjung Pasir. Mangal, tidal 
flats and beaches. Nest with 2 eggs (one chipping) 9 m 
up in a Sonneratia alba on seaward edge of mangal at 
Sebotok on 7 November 1988. 
Ixobryclnts sinensis Yellow Bittern 
Sumbawa 1. - Moderately common at a large 
freshwater lake at Meraran in May 1988. Mainly in 
Typha, lilies and water hyacinth. Nest with one nestling 
found in Typha on 13 May. This is the first record for 
Sumbawa and the first breeding record for Nusa 
Tenggara. Previously thought to be only a migrant to 
Wallacea, however, small breeding populations have 
been found in areas with a large influx of migrants e.g. 
Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Java (Hancock and Elliott 
1978). 
Ciconiidae 
Ciconia e. episcopus Woolly-necked Stork 
Sumbawa I. - Moderately common in ones, twos and 
groups (up to 30). Recorded at Belo, Sekongkang (8“59'S, 
116”45'E), Selah Legium and near Sumbawa Besar. 
Mainly ricefields. Two specimens from Dompu in MZB 
collection. 
Moyo. I - Scarce. Two at Brang Kua on 11 November, 
two on a reef flat at Tanjung Pasir on 14 November 1988 
and two observed regularly between Labuan Aji and 
waterfalls from 1992-1995. 
Leploptilos javanicus Lesser Adjutant 
Moyo I. - Two at Brang Kua on 10 November 1988. 
The first record east of Bali. 
Accipitridae 
Pandion haliaetus Osprey 
Moyo 1. - Scarce. Only recorded at Amanwana Bay 
and Tanjung Pasir. 
Pernis plilorhyncus Oriental Honey-buzzard 
Sumbawa 1. Scarce. One at Babar, Selah Legium on 8 
August and a pair at Gunung Olet Sangenges on 16 
August 1993. These are the first records for Sumbawa 
and the birds probably belong to one of the Sundaic 
races P. p. lorquatus or P. p. plilorhyncus. 
Elanus caeruleus Black-winged Kite 
Sumbawa I. - Scarce. Recorded by Gibbs (1990) at 
Taliwang in December 1989 and one near Lake Taliwang 
on 9 August 1993. The first records for Sumbawa. 
Milvus migrans affinis Black Kite 
Sumbawa I - Three edge of lake at Meraran on 22 
May and one over roads and fires on 13 May 1988. The 
first records for Sumbawa. 
Haliastur indus intermedins Brahminy Kite 
Sumbawa I. - Common. Ones, twos and groups (up 
to 24). Recorded at Alas, Meraran, Selah Legium, Maluk, 
Taliwang, Sumbawa Besar, Teluk Santong, Dahu and 
near Dompu. Mainly coasts, swamps, riverine 
vegetation and moist deciduous monsoon forest. Also 
attracted to fires. Recorded up to 1200 m at Gunung Olet 
Sangenges. A male from Dompu in MZB collection. 
Moyo 1. - One in mangal and coconut plantation at 
Sebotok, two observations of single birds at Tanjung 
Pasir and two at Amanwana. 
Haliaeelus leucogaster White-bellied Sea Eagle 
Sumbawa 1. - Uncommon. One near Alas on 7 May; 
one near Sumbawa Besar on 23 May 1988; one at Maluk 
on 9 August 1993; four east of Sape on 21 August 1993; 
