The avifauna of Biak Island, Papua, Indonesia with comments on status, conservation, natural history and taxonomy
Author
Bishop, K. David
text
Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club
2023
2023-03-06
143
1
3
62
journal article
298463
10.25226/bboc.v143i1.2023.a2
6028cf6b-e944-40d1-b774-7caa1c970409
2513-9894
11642130
805136AB-F3FE-4C77-85AC-E37423156B6D
[WHITE-BREASTED WOODSWALLOW
Artamus leucorhynchus
]
Status
KDB recorded this species on
30 September‒1 October 1989
and
4‒5 June 1990
but without notes. Included to alert future observers as its presence is quite plausible. The species’ ability to cross water and colonise remote islands is illustrated by its global distribution (
Rowley & Russell 2020
). Widespread throughout open and lightly wooded country of lowland mainland New
Guinea (
Pratt & Beehler 2015
)
and from its base in
Australia
has occupied many islands in the south-west Pacific. Thus, its presence would not be surprising on Biak (note, not yet Supiori) given extensive areas of suitable habitat in the south of the island.
Artamus
has not been recorded on Yapen but may have been overlooked there.