An ornithological survey of Vanuatu on the islands of Éfaté, Malakula, Gaua, and Vanua Lava

By

Andersen, Michael J.
Fatdal, Lilly
Mauck Iii, William M.
Smith, Brian Tilston

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2017-11-10

Original Publication

Check list : journal of species lists and distribution

Volume

13

Series / Issue

Issue: 6

Pages

755--782

Subjects

bird species inventory , island biogeography , Melanesia , tropical South Pacific , Whitney South Sea Expedition

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

[São Paulo, Brazil] Luís Felipe Toledo 2005-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15560/13.6.755

 

Abstract

We surveyed forest birds on 4 islands in Vanuatu from November–December 2014, including sites on Éfaté, Malakula, Gaua, and Vanua Lava Islands. Here, we summarize our survey results and place them into the context of prior ornithological surveys in Vanuatu. We recorded 44 species across all survey sites, including eight species endemic to Vanuatu and another 6 species endemic to the region of Southern Melanesia. We collected voucher specimens of 26 species and made 98 recordings of vocalizations from 24 species. Malakula was the most diverse site we surveyed with 35 native species. We observed differences in breeding phenology across islands and between species within survey sites. There was more evidence of breeding by birds on Éfaté and Malakula than on Gaua and Vanua Lava. Finally, we present local bird names from each surveyed site as described by village elders and local guides.