Observations on birds at glacial altitudes on the Cartensz Massif, western New Guinea

Abstract

Birds observed and collected on an expedition in 1971-72 to the Carstensz massif, the highest mountain complex in New Guinea, are reviewed and related to their distribution elsewhere. This is the first, albeit incomplete, systematic documentation of the birds of the Carstensz mountains. Extensions of latitudinal range are recorded for Falco cenchroides, Anurophasis monorthonyx, Petroica archboldi and Macgregoria pulchra, and of altitudinal range for nearly all species found. Reasons for the recovery of specimens of lowland resident species and migrants at extra-limital altitudes on the Carstensz ice cap are discussed.