Max C. Thompson

Name: Birds from North Borneo
Author: Max C. Thompson

Birds from North Borneo

Summary

“Birds from North Borneo”, is a work by Max C. Thompson. It explores elements such as testis, mm and Quoin Hill.

Quotes from Birds from North Borneo (Max C. Thompson)

Max C. Thompson, Birds from North Borneo

“ ECOLOGICAL AFFINITIES OF THE AVIFAUNA AT QUOIN HILL
More time was spent at Quoin Hill than at any other locality. Fifty five of the more common and hence best-known birds are listed in Table 1 together with their primary and secondary preferences of habitat. The habitat distribution of the birds shows the amount of secondary utilization of habitats by birds that occurred predominantly in one habitat. Cocoa was utilized by 6.2 per cent of the birds of the primary forest, and 88.8 per cent of birds of the secondary forest. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Max C. Thompson, Birds from North Borneo

“ The avifauna of Borneo is of Indo-Malayan affinities. The number of birds endemic to Borneo is relatively small; most species are shared with the Asian mainland. Only 29 birds are known to be endemic to the island and 17 of these are montane. The large proportion of montane endemics is not surprising, because Borneo [Pg 381] has been connected with the Asian continent in recent geological time; lowland isolation, and differentiation, has been less extensive than the montane. The Sunda Shelf, on which Borneo is situated, lies in a shallow sea generally less than 300 feet deep. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Max C. Thompson, Birds from North Borneo

“ Cocoa plantations.—Artificial plantings of cocoa, Theobroma cacao, formed a major habitat type at Quoin Hill, and provided a major source of food for birds. Cocoa planters have found it necessary to provide shade with trees of some other species. In some instances trees from the original primary forest were left standing to provide this shade, but more often exotic trees were planted. Most of the shade trees were of no use to birds save for providing resting places. Trema orientalis was the most important in providing food for birds. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Max C. Thompson, Birds from North Borneo

“ The endemic species in Borneo are members of four, possibly five, genera that are also endemic. Four of these five genera are montane in distribution. The only endemic for which the geographic history cannot be adequately explained is the monotypic Pityriasis gymnocephala. Its affinities seem to be with the Cracticidae of New Guinea and Australia. The species has been found throughout Borneo. Since Pityriasis is endemic to Borneo, it probably was detached from the parent stock at an early period. The Australasian affinities of Pityriasis emphasize its zoogeographical peculiarities. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Max C. Thompson, Birds from North Borneo

“ Thus the primary forest here started at the edge of the Cocoa Research Station. This was in marked contrast to areas on the west coast, where one would need to travel many miles inland to find virgin forest. The forest at Quoin Hill was typical tropical rain-forest, composed mostly of dipterocarps (Dipterocarpaceae) . These comprise an essentially Indo-Malayan family, members of which are so conspicuous that we commonly referred to it as Evergreen Dipterocarp Forest. The lowland forests of Borneo are composed of approximately 3,000 species of trees (Browne, 1955) . ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Max C. Thompson, Birds from North Borneo

“ This cuckoo was common in the cocoa planting at the Cocoa Research Station and not found in any other type of habitat. Smythies (1960:255) thought that possibly two species of Chalcites were represented in the series of Chalcites malayanus from Borneo. I have assembled all 20 known specimens, however, including seven in the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard unreported by Smythies (1957:638) and find that the variation in the coloration of the head and upperparts is due to the difference in sexes, the males being darker than the females. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Max C. Thompson, Birds from North Borneo

“ The breeding season in North Borneo.—Birds in the Quoin Hill area of eastern Borneo seem to breed most commonly in June, July, and August. Table 2 lists 34 of the more common species at Quoin Hill for which evidence on breeding was available. The actual evidence was provided by females with active brood patches or active ovaries, males with enlarged testes, birds in juvenal plumage, or birds actively in annual molt. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Max C. Thompson, Birds from North Borneo

“ Red-footed Booby.—A captive seen in the Tawau police station was said to have been caught when it landed at night on a police launch anchored off Siamil Island in or near May, 1962. The bird was in first-year or second-year plumage, seemed to be tame, and was thriving on a diet of fish. Identification was made by Alexander Wetmore from a photographic print. This is the first seemingly substantiated record of the species from Borneo, although it probably occurs there regularly. The species breeds on Bankoran Island and on Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea (Smythies, 1960:113) . ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Max C. Thompson, Birds from North Borneo

“ The nesting data from the Ryves egg collection are scant and when used alone possibly yield a distorted view of the actual breeding season. Ryves did no collecting in the Sandakan area between September and March, and in the Kiau area between May and January. Although the breeding data from North Borneo accumulated by both Ryves and myself are limited, and records of rainfall are scant, there appears to be a trend toward breeding after the heavy rains have fallen.
Seasonality of breeding in tropical birds.—Possibly Bornean birds breed mostly in the "driest" part of the year. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Max C. Thompson, Birds from North Borneo

“ This babbler inhabits the understory of primary forest, and occasionally is seen in secondary forest scrub. A specimen was taken at 4,000 feet elevation in moss forest near Tenom. The breeding season is seemingly in June and July but there is indication of gonadal activity in males in October (MCT 3108) . On October 15, 1962, I observed an individual feeding on the rough bark of a large dipterocarp. The bird was clinging to the bark much as a nuthatch would, hopping along the vertical trunk upside down, laterally and straight up. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Max C. Thompson, Birds from North Borneo

“ Submontane, as defined by Smythies, is a comprehensive term applied to birds occurring from sea level to an elevation of 5,000 feet but ordinarily not found away from mountainous country. The Lowland birds normally range from sea level to 3,000 feet. Of the 125 species of birds observed at Quoin Hill, 1.6 per cent were Montane, 14.4 per cent were Submontane and 84 per cent were Lowland species. The distribution of birds 12 miles north of Kalabakan closely resembled that at Quoin Hill except for the total absence of Montane species and an increase of Submontane species to 25 per cent. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Max C. Thompson, Birds from North Borneo

“ In contrast to L. malacca, this species was commonly found in secondary forest away from cultivated fields. It was common at Quoin Hill and Kalabakan. On July 18, 1962, a pair was observed building a nest near Kalabakan, in a native kampong under the eave of a house. There the birds were fastening the nest to the palm thatching about 20 feet up and nearly over the door. Another pair was nesting, close to the same house, about eight feet up in a citrus tree. In Kalabakan proper, I saw a pair with fledgling young in a croton bush about six feet from the door of a house, on November 15, 1962. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Max C. Thompson, Birds from North Borneo

“ Sunlight penetrates only where the big trees have been removed or where the larger trees are otherwise widely spaced. At Quoin Hill the large trees of species affording lumber of commercial quality had been taken out, modifying somewhat the character of the forest. Such forest actually contained many of the animals characteristic of primary forest, and I refer to it as badly disturbed primary forest. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Max C. Thompson, Birds from North Borneo

“ Unlike most birds, these spiderhunters become quite agitated in nets, and within a few minutes usually strangle themselves.
From October 16 through November 11, I took several specimens 12 miles north of Kalabakan, but only one in breeding condition. On November 15, I moved 12 miles back to Kalabakan from an elevation of 600 feet to an elevation of 50 feet. As can be seen from the specimen-data, nearly all the females then collected either had nests with eggs or were approaching oviposition. The specimens were all taken in nets in an area approximately 200 feet square. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Max C. Thompson, Birds from North Borneo

“ The size of the testes of the males taken is characteristic of the beginning or ending of the breeding season, but ovaries of the females showed no signs of being in breeding condition.
According to Smythies (1960:385) , this species had never been taken in North Borneo. These specimens, therefore, are the first recorded from there. Specimens previously were saved from Sarawak and Indonesian Borneo.
Hypsipetes criniger viridis (Bonaparte) : Hairy-backed Bulbul.—Specimens, 26: Cocoa Research Station: ♂, September 26, 1962, MCT 2963 ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Max C. Thompson, Birds from North Borneo

“ 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. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Max C. Thompson, Birds from North Borneo

“ Whitehead's Thick-head.—Specimens, 2: Siamil Island: ♀, September 19, 1962, MCT 2931; ♂, September 19, 1962, MCT 2932.
The thick-heads were by far the most common passerine bird in the relict forest on Siamil Island, being quite tame and easily approached. They generally spent most of their time sitting on branches of forest vines and bushes in the understory and were never observed in the upper story. McGregor (1910:604) describes the species as: "Common on Tawi Tawi, less so in Sulu. A deep woods bird; tame and easily shot. Feeds on insects, and usually keeps some distance above the ground." ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Max C. Thompson, Birds from North Borneo

“ This is the only record known to me of this species from North Borneo. Smythies (1960:126) lists 11 specimens from other parts of Borneo.
Egretta sacra (Gmelin) : Reef Egret.—The species was observed at Karindingen Island on August 17 and November 24, 1962, and was the most common egret on the island. One compact flock of 50 was seen at high tide. No white-phased birds were in the flock.
Bubulcus ibis coromandus (Boddaert) : Cattle Egret.—Specimen, 1: Tongod: ♀, October 21, 1963, ADG 328.
Individuals were observed daily at Tuaran with cattle at the Agricultural Research Centre. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Max C. Thompson, Birds from North Borneo

“ This species was common in the old paddy near Tenom, which has now grown up to grass 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: ♂ testis 4 × 2 mm., December 23, 1962, MCT 3510 ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Max C. Thompson, Birds from North Borneo

“ But, Borneo is seemingly well within the normal range of the species and probably it is a resident of North Borneo. The Javanese Turtle Dove and the Spotted-necked Dove, S. chinensis, closely resemble each other; this resemblance may help to account for the lack of records of S. bitorquata.
Streptopelia chinensis (Scopoli) : Spotted-necked Dove.—Specimens, 2: Tiger Estate: ♂, June 19, 1963, ADG 149. Telipok: ♂, February 10, 1963, TM 34.
This is a common bird of the coconut groves around Tawau and on Siamil Island. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Max C. Thompson, Birds from North Borneo

“ These two specimens, when compared with series of specimens from the Philippines and Sumatra, fitted into a clinal progression of increasingly rufous tertials toward Sumatra. Peters (1934:96) united C. c. caerulescens with C. c. palmeri, but Amadon (in litt.) retains C. c. caerulescens (Smythies, 1957:588) . No clear-cut distributional pattern is yet discernible in North Borneo and the arrangement of Amadon (MS) should probably be reviewed again when more specimens become available.
These birds were observed several times at the Cocoa Research Station but were difficult to collect. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Max C. Thompson, Birds from North Borneo

“ When a bird stepped on the treadle, it tripped the snare and a loop closed about its feet, hoisting it aloft. To divert large ground birds and mammals into the snare, natives placed brush barriers along the top of a ridge for one or two miles. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Max C. Thompson, Birds from North Borneo

“ This species did not appear at Quoin Hill until August 23. The gonads of most of the adults taken from that time on appeared to be regressing from breeding condition, and several immatures were taken also, suggesting that the breeding season was over. The birds seemed to be attracted, with bulbuls, to the tree Trema orientalis.
Prionichilus maculatus maculatus (Temminck) : Yellow-throated Flowerpecker.—Specimen, 1: 12 mi. N Kalabakan: ♂, October 19, 1962, MCT 3094.
[Pg 431]
I observed this flowerpecker once at Quoin Hill, in much-disturbed primary forest, but was unable to secure a specimen. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Max C. Thompson, Birds from North Borneo

“ Tuaran: ♀, January 12, 1963, MCT 3594; ♀, January 12, 1963, MCT 3595; hermaphrodite, testis 8 × 5 mm., largest ovum of ovary 2 mm., January 12, 1963, MCT 3596; ♀, January 12, 1963, MCT 3597.
This was a common bird in the lowlands away from forest. I observed it feeding on lawns in Tawau. A pair was building a nest on July 19, 1962, in an ironwood tree about 10 feet above the ground. The nest was typically ball-shaped with a side entrance. This species appears to stay in age groups when it flocks, as evidenced by the large flocks of young in first-year plumage. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Max C. Thompson, Birds from North Borneo

“ Some of the September-taken specimens were in breeding condition.
Pycnonotus simplex perplexus Chasen and Kloss: White-eyed Brown Bulbul.—Specimens, 3: 5.5 mi. SW Tenom: ♀ ovary granular, December 19, [Pg 418] 1962, MCT 3469; ♂ testis 4 × 3 mm., December 20, 1962, MCT 3478; ♀ ovary granular, December 22, 1962, MCT 3499.
This bird was taken only in the moss forest at 4,000 feet elevation near Tenom. Smythies (1960:382) considered the species to be characteristic of the lowlands. Specimens were taken by Harrison in the Kelabit Uplands (Smythies, 1957:704) at 4,200 feet. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Max C. Thompson, Birds from North Borneo

“ I saw this migrant at Semporna on August 19, 1962; soon it was the most common swallow at each of the localities where seen.
Cecropsia striolata striolata Temminck and Schlegel: Striated Swallow.—While in Kalabakan on November 3, 1962, I saw a swallow that differed markedly from others in town. ”

Max C. Thompson

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Quotes from Birds from North Borneo (Max C. Thompson)

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