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Birdwatching
Finding the Timor Island endemics in Asia’s newest country
by Colin R. Trainor, Charles Darwin University & BirdLife International – Asia Programme
Timor-Leste is an exciting area for ground-breaking bird watching. During the Indonesian period of governance there were effectively no observations. The country is rich in globally restricted range species, many of which are easier to observe in Timor-Leste than neighboring Indonesian West Timor. There are numerous opportunities for birders with a pioneering spirit to record new island records, or unusual observations of poorly known island endemics.
Global conservation setting
Timor-Leste (East Timor) is one half of Timor Island, which is the second largest of the important centre of global biodiversity known as Wallacea, and is a major part of the Timor and Wetar Endemic Bird Area of BirdLife International which includes the islands of Timor, Wetar, Roti and Semau. Timor-Leste and surrounding oceanic islands are major repositories of endemic and globally restricted range fauna, which is best expressed by numerous endemic bird species. Thirty-five restricted-range bird species occur in the Timor and Wetar Endemic Bird Area, with 23 of these species found nowhere else in the world. Several of the world’s rarest birds are present in Timor-Leste including the Yellow-crested Cockatoo and Wetar Ground-dove. It is these endemic species which will be the major focus for visiting birdwatchers.
Globally restricted range species are those that have ranges totaling less than 50,000 km 2. The majority of these are dependent on tropical forest or rainforest, highlighting the importance of conserving forest for the conservation of Timor-Leste’s biodiversity, and for sustainable enterprises such as ecotourism and bird watching. Timor Island is the single greatest conservation importance in the Timor and Wetar EBA because at least 32 restricted-range species are present, as well as seven single island endemics.
The Timor endemics are: Buff-banded Bushbird, Black-banded Flycatcher, Timor Bush Warbler, Spot-breasted White-eye, Red-rumped Myzomela, Yellow-eared Honeyeater and Plain Friarbird.
Six globally threatened birds reside in Timor-Leste: the Yellow-crested Cockatoo (Critically Endangered according to the IUCN), Wetar Ground-dove (Endangered), Timor Green Pigeon (Endangered), Timor Imperial Pigeon (Endangered), Timor Black Pigeon (Vulnerable), and Timor Sparrow (Vulnerable).
Timor-Leste information on these threatened species has been compiled in the Threatened Birds of Asia: the Birdlife International Red Data Book. New information is urgently needed for several species.
List of globally threatenedand restricted-range species occurring in Timor-Leste (from Stattersfield et al. 1998). Status (following BirdLife International 2001): CR = Critically endangered, EN = Endangered; VU = Vulnerable, Nt = Near threatened. RR = globally Restricted-range).
| Species | Status | RR | Altitude(m) | Habitat |
| Yellow-crested Cockatoo Cacatua sulphurea | CR | 0-1000 | Tropical dry forest, woodland | |
| Christmas Island Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi | CR | 0-200 | Coast/estuary (aerial) | |
| Timor Green Pigeon Treron psittacea | EN | RR | 0-600 | Tropical dry forest |
| Timor Imperial Pigeon Ducula cineracea | EN | RR | 400-2200 | Tropical montane forest |
| Wetar Ground Dove Gallicolumba hoedtii | EN | RR | 0-800 | Primary Tropical dry forest |
| Timor Black Pigeon Turacoena modesta | VU | RR | 0-1100 | Tropical dry forest |
| Timor Sparrow Padda fuscata | VU | RR | 0-800 | Grassland, agricultural land |
| Iris Lorikeet Psitteuteles iris | Nt | RR | 0-1500 | Closed forest, flowering trees |
| Pink-headed Imperial Pigeon Ducula rosacea | Nt | RR | 0-600 | Forest, coastal scrub |
| Olive-shouldered Parrot Aprosmictus jonquillaceus | Nt | RR | 0-2600 | Tropical dry forest, Savanna |
| Cinnamon-banded Kingfisher Halcyon australasia | Nt | RR | 0-1300 | Tropical dry forest |
| Chestnut-backed Thrush Zoothera dohertyi | Nt | RR | 600-2300 | Hill and montane forest |
| Orange-sided Thrush Zoothera peronii | Nt | RR | 0-1600 | Closed canopy forest |
| White-bellied Chat Saxicola gutturalis | Nt | RR | 0-1200 | Tropical dry forest |
| Black-banded Flycatcher Ficedula timorensis | Nt | RR | 0-1200 | Tropical dry forest |
| Spot-breasted Dark-eye Heleia muelleri | Nt | RR | 0-1300 | Tropical dry forest |
| Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster | Nt | 0-1200 | Wetlands | |
| Malaysian Plover Charadrius peronii | Nt | 0-20 | Beaches, coast | |
| Beach Curlew Esacus magnirostris | Nt | 0-5 | Beaches | |
| Timor Bush Warbler Bradypterus timorensis | RR | 1500+ | Montane forest | |
| Barred-necked Cuckoo-dove Macropygia magna | RR | 0-800 | Tropical dry forest | |
| Olive-headed Lorikeet Trichoglossus euteles | RR | 0-2300 | forest, agricultural land | |
| Timor Stubtail Urosphena subulata | RR | 0-1900 | Tropical dry forest, scrub | |
| Buff-banded Bush-bird Buettikoferella bivittata | RR | Lowlands | Tropical dry forest | |
| Timor Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus presbytes | RR | 0-2300 | all forest types | |
| Timor Blue Flycatcher Cyornis hyacinthinus | RR | 0-2000 | Tropical dry forest | |
| Plain Fairy Warbler Gerygone inornata | RR | Lowlands | Tropical dry forest, scrub | |
| Fawn-breasted Whistler Pachycephala orpheus | RR | 0-1200 | Tropical dry forest | |
| Red-chested Flowerpecker Dicaeum maugei | RR | 0-1200 | Open forest | |
| Flame-breasted Sunbird Nectarinia solaris | RR | 0-1000 | Tropical dry forest, scrub | |
| Yellow-eared Honeyeater Lichmera flavicans | RR | 0-2000 | Tropical dry forest | |
| Black-chested Honeyeater Myzomela vulnerata | RR | 0-1200 | Tropical dry forest | |
| Streak-breasted Honeyeater Meliphaga reticulata | RR | 0-1200 | Tropical dry forest | |
| Timor Friarbird Philemon inornatus | RR | 0-2200 | Tropical dry forest | |
| Tricolored parrot-finch Erythrura tricolor | RR | 0-1200 | Tropical dry forest, thickets | |
| Olive-brown Oriole Oriolus melanotis | RR | 0-1600 | Tropical dry forest | |
| Timor Figbird Sphecotheres viridis | RR | Lowlands | Tropical dry forest, scrub |
Birds of Timor-Leste
Rainbow Lorikeet
Timor-Leste has a total known bird fauna of about 240 species, with several species being added to the island and national list in 2003-2004. The Timor Bush Warbler was recognized as a distinct species as recently as 2001 but there have been no recent sightings of this elusive montane species and it will be a focus for intrepid birdwatchers in the mountains south of Dili (Díli).
The bird fauna of Timor-Leste and surrounding islands is among the most poorly-known in the world. Fortunately there are quality identification plates of all Timor-Leste birds in the guidebook “Birds of Wallacea” by Coates and Bishop, which makes identification easier. Several papers and trip reports give details of ecology and recent sightings. Many forest birds are difficult to observe so that use of tape recordings may be important for identification.
Of the 240 species about 170 are considered resident. Migrants are poorly known in Timor-Leste but this includes about 30 plus Palearctic passage migrants dominated by waders, with a cuckoo, swallow, leaf warbler and several raptor species. These species arrive each year during the northern hemisphere winter period of August to November and generally return each year by May.
Timor Black Pigeon
Yellow-crested Cockatoo
A small number of species regularly migrate from Australia during the austral winter (May-October). This includes several cuckoo species including the Australian Pratincole, Whiskered Tern, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Sacred Kingfisher, Rainbow Bee-eater and Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike. Records of migrate species should be noted and made public to allow a better understanding of their occurrence in Timor-Leste and the region.
The origin of the resident bird fauna is roughly half Australian and half oriental, which makes for an interesting mix. Typical Australian species such as lorikeets, honeyeaters and woodswallows can be seen with oriental species such as chats, white-eyes and sunbirds.
The origins of the endemic species are less well known though the Spot-breasted Dark-eye is in the Wallacean-centred white-eye family. The Timor Black Pigeon is one of two species in the genus, the other restricted to Sulawesi Island.
One peculiar endemic species is Buff-banded Bush-bird Buettikoferella bivittata. The genus Buettikoferella occurs only on Timor but its origins are said to lie in Melanesia.
Identifying key sites for conservation in Timor-Leste.
Closed canopy tropical dry forest or monsoon forest is the key habitat for the majority of endemic and restricted range bird species found in Timor-Leste and this is where birders will seek out the threatened and endemic species. Though there are a few exceptions. The Timor Sparrow, perhaps better known as Timor Finch is an open country species that is most regularly observed in savanna or along weedy roadside verges.
Other endemic species that can be found in savanna habitat (such as around Tasi-tolu and Kristu-Rei (Cristo-Rei) near Dili (Díli)) include Yellow-eared Honeyeater Lichmera flavicans, the brilliant Flame-breasted Sunbird Nectarinia solaris, and Streaky-breasted Honeyeater Meliphaga reticulata.
Mountain habitat is extensive in Timor-Leste, and about 15 bird species are considered “montane” or occurring in the hills and mountains at 500 m or above. The Timor Bush-warbler and Timor Imperial Pigeon Ducula cineracea are two examples.
There have been several frameworks to identify and protect examples of Timor-Leste’s natural environment, and these will undoubtedly be useful for birdwatchers to research and form itineries for bird searching Timor-Leste.
In 1982, as part of an Indonesian National Conservation Plan for a protected area network, eight Timor-Leste sites were identified as being important to conserve examples of Timor’s natural heritage. Almost all the lowland forest was restricted to three sites: Sungai Clere, Lore and Mount Paitchau-Iralalaro (Tutuala area, the Conis Santana National Park), and montane forest was concentrated in the Ramelau and Mount Diatuto sites.
The Mount Paitchau-Iralalaro and Mount Diatuto sites were identified as the highest priorities for protected area gazettment and conservation management because of their high biodiversity value.
More recently in 2000, the UNTAET administration listed 15 “Protected Wild Areas” (Regulation NO. 2000/19) which included most of those sites originally proposed by the FAO/UNDP (1982). In 2004 a draft Important Bird Areas directory was compiled by BirdLife International. This directory included a summary of restricted range and threatened bird records and site information for 15 localities.
Little information on birds is available for many of these key sites for conservation. An important activity for birdwatchers will be to fill in this data and assist government management and conservation planning.
Key birdwatching sites.
Recent field studies have added to this information base with a summary below:
Conis Santana National Park
Tasi-tolu
Mount Curi
Lake Maubara
Lake Seloi
Lake Eraulu
Cablaque mountain
Conis Santana National Park (Lautein (Lautém) District, 220 km east of Dili (Díli))
The most extensive lowland tropical forest in the nation. As expected this is a key site for Timor Green Pigeon, Timor Black Pigeon, with occasional flocks of Yellow-crested Cockatoos still present. The majority of Timor-Leste’s birds could be seen in this area in a few days. The large freshwater Lake Iralalara has important populations of water birds including cormorants and pelicans.
Tasi-tolu (Dili (Díli) District, 8 km west of Dili (Díli))
This site includes three permanent shallow saline lakes totaling about 70 ha, beach and a hinterland dominated by Eucalyptus savanna. Tasi-tolu is one of the most important wetlands in Timor-Leste. An impressive 45 waterbirds have been recorded to date including 20 passage waders species. The savanna hills host Timor Sparrow and raptors, and a wide range of savanna birds. This should be visited by all birders who reach Dili (Díli). Komoro River estuary and Kristu-Rei (Cristo-Rei) can also be of interest for waterbirds.
Lake Laga (Baukau (Baucau) District, 150 km east of Dili (Díli))
This is a small shallow saline lake ringed by mangrove. Seasonally it has moderate numbers of up to 10 Palearctic wader species; visiting birds such as Australian Pelican are occasionally present.
Mount Curi (Dili (Díli) District, 45 km east of Dili (Díli))
The steep savanna dominated hills of this isolated 1300 m high mountain near Dili (Díli) would make a stunning backdrop to a birding trip in this area. A host of endemics have been identified in the lowlands including Timor Sparrow, but the slopes and upper peaks await keen birders.
Lake Maubara (Likisá (Liquiçá) District, 45 km west of Dili (Díli))
This shallow saline lake provides habitat for several resident waterbirds and small numbers of migrants. Of particular interest are the Timor Black Pigeon which are regularly seen in Tropical dry forest around the lake. The surrounding hills also hold great promise.
Lake Seloi (Aileu District, 45 km south of Dili)
This montane spring fed wetland at 1100 m hosts Australian Pelican, cormorants, Black-winged Stilt and Common Coot (newly recorded for Timor).
Lake Eraulu (Ermera District, 55 km southwest of Dili (Díli))
Another montane marshland, this scenic area regularly hosts large numbers of Pacific Black Duck, a few Darter, Egrets and Red-throated Little Grebe.
Railako area (Ermera District, 35 km southwest of Dili (Díli))
An interesting area of coffee plantation with an overstorey of Albizzia, 1 km south of Railko, has a number of interesting species. The Iris Lorikeet has regularly been seen feeding in roadside figs, as has the Timor Imperial Pigeon. Olive-shouldered Parrot is regularly observed here.
Cablaque mountain, Ainaru (Ainaro) area (Ainaru (Ainaro) District, about 100 km south of Dili (Díli))
The slopes of Mount Cablaque have extensive swathes of Casuarina forest at elevations of 800-1500 m. This area has never been surveyed, but might be expected to be of particular interest for the many montane birds known from Timor Island.
Birdwatching resources for Timor-Leste
Birdlife International. (2001) Threatened Birds of Asia: the Birdlife International Red Data Book. Cambridge, UK.: BirdLife International.
Coates, B. J. and Bishop, K. D. (1997) A Guide to the Birds of Wallacea. Alderley, Queensland: Dove Publications.
Coates, B. J. and Bishop, K. D. (1997) Panduan lapangan Burung-Burung di kawasan Wallacea. Jakarta: BirdLife Indonesia Programme. [Indonesian edition].
Olsen, J., and Trainor, C. R. (2004) A first breeding record of the Red-capped Plover Charadrius ruficapillus for Wallacea and notes on other Waders observed at Tasi-tolu, Timor-Leste. Australian Field Ornithology.
Monk, K. A., de Fretes, Y. and Lilley, G. (1997) The Ecology of Nusa Tenggara and Maluku. Singapore: Periplus Editions.
Noske, R. A. (1996). At the crossroads of two avifaunas – Timor. Bulletin of the Oriental Bird Club 21: 34-38.
Noske, R. A. (1997). The ecology of Timor birds. Pp 353-362 in. Monk, K. A., de Fretes, Y. and Lilley, G. The Ecology of Nusa Tenggara and Maluku. Singapore: Periplus Editions.
Trainor, C. R., Santana, F., Xavier, A., do Santos, L. Xavier, F., and dos Santos, J. (2004) Status of globally threatened birds and internationally significant sites in Timor-Leste ( East Timor) based on rapid participatory biodiversity assessments. Report to BirdLife International – Asia Programme.
Trainor, C. R. (2004) A preliminary list of Important Bird Areas in East Timor. Darwin, Australia: BirdLife International Asia Division/Vogelbescherming.
Trainor, C. R., & Soares, T. (2004). Birds of Atauro Island, Timor-Leste ( East Timor) Forktail. 20, 41-48.
UNTAET. (2000) On protected places. Regulation NO. 2000/19 on protected places.
Key Internet links
BirdLife International: key global bird conservation group »
Threatened Birds of Asia: summary and updates on status of world’s birds »
Globally threatened birds underlines calls for first National Park for Timor-Leste »