The montane avifauna of West New Britain, with special reference to the Nakanai Mountains

Abstract

An ornithological survey of the Nakanai Mountains of West New Britain, Papua New Guinea, was conducted during December 1979. In all, 34 species were recorded above 900 m which, when combined with additional similar-elevation records for these mountains, gives a total of 53 species now known for the Nakanai Mountains. In total, 71 species are now known from the mountains of West New Britain. One species, listed here as the first record of Turdus poliocephalus on New Britain, almost certainly represents an undescribed taxon. A second species, the little-known endemic honeyeater Vosea whitemanensis, was observed for only the third time. Of the 53 species now known for the Nakanai Mountains, 22 are Restricted Range Species, including six species endemic to New Britain. Eight species recorded in the Nakanai Mountains are classified as globally threatened or near threatened.