Tennent,J. R. M.

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J.E.Afr.Nat.Hist.Soc. Vol.XXV No.2 (111) June 1965
NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF KAKAMEGAFOREST
By
J.R.M. TENNENT
Thanks to its remoteness from Nairobi, Kakamega Forest has seldom
been regularly visited by ornithologists, so although the following
notes are based only on sight records, they add considerably to what
is known about the species of birds to be found there. As is well
known, the Kakamega Forest is, in its botanical composition, different
from any of the other Kenya forests, being in fact an outlier of
Uganda and West African types. It contains some valuable timber trees
which are being exploited and as a result there are large parts of
the forest where the majority of the trees which formed the canopy
have been felled. In these areas, thanks to the high rainfall, a
dense secondary growth twenty to forty feet high has quickly formed.
The Forest Department is carrying out a programme of "enrichment" of
the cut-over areas and of some untouched areas which contain few valu-
able trees. For thi~purpose small clearings are made so that useful
timber trees can be fntroduced in the natural habitat. Such small
clearings are attractive to some species for feeding. Another feature
of the forest is the occurrence of scattered grass glades, fringed
with scrub, some having a fire-climax cover of scattered trees.
As no collecting was done there are inevitably lacunae among the
birds of the difficult groups such as especially the Bulbuls, Warblers
and Swifts.
The nomenclature used in the systematic list follows Mackworth-
Praed and Grant - Birds of Eastern and North Eastern Africa(London
1952 and 1955). The numbers given to the species in that work are
added for convenience. Mr. J.G. Williams, Curator of the Department
of Ornithology at the Coryndon Museum, has kindly checked the manuscript
and is responsible for the notes marked J.G.W.
147. Crowned Hawk-eagle, Stephanoaetus coronatus (Linnaeus)
An inaccessible nest was occupied in late June and early
July 1959 but the birds were disturbed by logging.
157. Banded Harrier-eagle, Circaetus cinerascens MUller
One, 28th. August, 1959.
189. Forest Francolin, Francolinus lathami (Hartlaub)
It was probably this species which was very commonbut
equally shy. (The commonforest Francolin is 204 The Scaly
Francolin, F. squamatus (Cassin): collected. J.G.W.)
217. The Crested Guinea-Fowl, Guttera edouardi (Hartlaub)
Is not uncommon. J.G.W.
380. Olive Pidgeon, Columba arquatrix Timminck
Always abundant.
383. Bronze-naped Pigeon, Turturoena delaqorquei (Delagorgue)
Common.
394. Tambour1ne Dove, Tvmpanistria tvmpanistria (Timminck and Knip)
Very common.
95
Birds of Kakamega Forest
398. Lemon Dove, Aplopelia larvata (Temminck and Knip)
Commonin cut-over forest and drier parts of the primary
forest.
406. Red-chested Cuckoo, Cuculus solitarius Stephens
Seen only once on the edge of a glade.
416. Emerald Cuckoo, Chrvsococcvx cupreus (Shaw)
Common, though less so than in the surrounding cultivated
country.
418. Klaas' Cuckoo, Chrvsococcvx klaas (Stephens)
Commonin surrounding cultivated country but not seen in the
forest.
424. Yellow-bill, Centhmocares aereus (Vieillot)
Common.
432. Hartlaub's Turaco, Tauraco hartlaubi (Fischer &Reichenow)
A party seen once on 28th. August, 1959.
437. Great Blue Turaco, Corvtheola cristata (Vieillot)
Common, emerging from the forest to feed in the high trees
along rivers. The writer is not familiar with this species
in Uganda but birds seen in Kakamega forest showed a notice-
able green tinge on the neck, the feature by which Mearns
separates a sub-species C.c. valensis which is not accepted
by Van Someren (Novitates ZooloQicae. XXIX, No.1, (1922)).
442. Grey Parrot, Psittacus erithacus Linn.
Uncommon.
494. Blue-headed Bee-eater, MellitophaQus mulleri (Cassin)
Commonly seen feeding in small open places, such as where a
large tree had fallen, in the heavy forest.
500. Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill, Bvcanistes subcvlindricus
(Sclater)
Common. Feed largely outside the forest, especially in the
large trees along the rivers.
509. Crowned Hornbill, Tockus albiterminatus (Buttikorfer)
Scarce, probably feeding mainly outside the forest. Feeding
young at a nest near the edge on 17th. May, 1959.
522. White-headed Wood-hoopoe, Phoeniculus bollei (Hartlaub)
Regularly seen in the high trees of primary forest.
570. Narina's Trogon, Apaloderma narina (Stephens)
Common•. Especially attracted to 'enrichment glades' for
feeding. Apparently of the Congo race, A.n. brachvurum Chapin,
or perhaps intermediate, having a green suffusion on the chest.
571. Bar-tailed Trogon, HeterotroQon vittatum (Shelley)
Regularly seen, behaving much as the last species. A male
seen at very close quarters appeared to have the top of the
head of a blue-green colour and so was perhaps also of the
Congo race, H. v. camerunensis Reichenow.
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J.E.Afr.Nat.Hist.Soc. Vol.XXV No.2 (Ill) June 1965
586. Grey-throated Barbet. Gvmnobucco bonapartei Hartlaub
One flock seen. Its habit of perching at the top of high
trees may make it seem less commonthan it is.
590. Yellow-spotted Barbet. Buccannodon duchaillui (Cassin)
Common. especially in secondary forest.
597. Golden-rumped Tinker-bird. POQoniulus bilineatus (Sundevall)
Common. mainly in secondary forest. but also found feeding
even in the undergrowth of heavy primary forest.
604. Yellow-billed Barbet. Trachvlaemus purpuratus (Verreaux)
Common.
610. Least HoneY-Guide. Indicator exilis (Cassin)
One small honey guide. almost certainly of this species
hawking insects on 11th. October. 1959. (The Thick-billed
Honey-Guide Indicator conirostris (Cassin) 609. and 608
Lesser Honey-Guide I. minor Stephens have been collected. J.G.W.)
623. Cardinal Woodpecker. Dendropicos fuscescens (Vieillot)
In thin woodland round glades etc.
632. Yellow-crested Woodpecker. Mesopicos xantholophus (Hargitt)
One pair seen in cut-over forest. October. 1959.
649. Sabine's Spinetail. Chaetura sabini Grey
Several usually to be seen in an area centering on a point
about one mile east of Rondo Sawmill. (Vide J.E.Afr.Nat.Hist.
Soc. Vol. XXIII No.7. 1960). Subsequently to the writer's
discovering these birds in the Kakamega Forest Mr. B. Monroe
from the Louisiana University Natural History Museum shot
specimens. of which some are in the Coryndon Museum collec-
tion. He told the writer that he had found the species in
other parts of the forest also but in 1959 they were never
seen except at the locality mentioned above.
660. Flappet-Lark. Mirafra rufocinnamomea (Salvadori)
In the grassy glades it was common. Nest with young hatching
4th. April. 1959.
740. Abyssinian Hill-babbler. Pseudoalcippe abvssinicus. (Ruppell)
Only one seen in the higher eastern part of the forest at
5600 ft.
746. Bristle-bill. BIeda svndactvla Swainson
Not common. Feeding often in mixed bird "waves" which
included flycatchers and wattle-eyes. (Commonly taken in
mist nets. J.G.W.)
770. Joyful Greenbul. Chlorocichla laetissima (Sharpe)
On the edges of clearings in secondary forest rather than in
primary forest.
776. Yellow-whiskered Greenbul. StelQidocichla latirostris (Strickland)
Common.
811. Shrike-flycatcher. Meqabvas flammulatus Verreaux
Commonin October but not seen at any other time.
97
Birds of Kakamega Forest
813. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Hvliota flaviqaster Swainson
Noted from primary and secondary forest as well as from a grass
glade with scattered small trees.
822. Wattle-eye, Platvsteira cvanea (Muller)
Not as commonas the next two species, though found commonly
in clumps of trees outside the forest, as for example in
Kakamega boma.
824. Chestnut Wattle-eye, Dvaphorophvia castanea (Fraser)
Common. Sometimes feeding in mixed bird parties.
825. Jameson's Wattle-eye, Dvaphorophvia iamesoni Sharpe
The commonest wattle-eye in some parts of the dense forest.
826. Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye, Dvaphorophvia concreta (Hartlaub)
Commonin places. Like the other species of wattle-eye it
seemed to prefer areas where comparatively small trees of open
habit were scattered not too densely.
827. Blue Flycatcher, Erranornis lonqicauda (Swainson)
Very commonon the edge of the forest glades but never within
the forest.
831. Dusky Crested Flycatcher, Trochocercus niqromitratus (Reichenow)
Common. Seen feeding in mixed bird parties including wattle-
eyes.
832. Paradise Flycatcher, Tchitrea viridis (Muller)
In thickets in glades, but not in the forest proper.
841. Olive Thrush, Turdus olivaceus (Linnaeus)
Not common.
889. Blue-shouldered Robin-chat, Cossvpha cvanocampter (Bonaparte)
Not common.
898. Equatorial Akalat, Sheppardia aequatorialis (jackson)
Commonin the densest parts of the forest.
901. Fire-crested Alethe, Alethe castanea (Cassin)
One only seen in a rather dry part of the forest in May, 1959.
965. Uganda Woodland Warbler, Seicercus budonqoensis (Seth-Smith)
Seen once feeding in an 'enrichment glade'.
969. Fan-tailed Warbler, Schoenicola brevirostris (Sundevall)
Appeared in numbers in a glade having rank vegetation during
July, 1959.
972. Buff-throated Apalis, Apalis rufoqularis (Fraser)
Common.
973. Grey Apalis, Apalis cinerea (Sharpe)
Not seen in the forest proper but in an isolated forest patch
in cultivated country three miles to the west.
976. Black-backed Apalis, Apalis niqrescens (Jackson)
Seen twice only, in July 1959.
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J.E.Afr.Nat.Hist.Soc. Vol.XXV No.2 (111) June 1965
977. Black-collared Apalis, Apalis pulchra (Sharpe)
Common.
1007. Brown-crowned Eremomela, Eremomela badiceps Fraser
Commonin small flocks.
1011. Grey-backed Camaroptera, Camaroptera brevicaudata (Cretschmar)
Commonin bush areas surrounding the forest but remarkable
for its absence from the forest proper. This is in contrast
with its inhabiting of forests east of the Rift Valley.
1048. White-chinned Prinia, Prinia leucopoqon (Cabanis)
Commonin undergrowth in more open parts of the forest.
1049. Banded Prinia, Prinia bairdii (Cassin)
Commonin undergrowth in small clearings.
1053. Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Bathmocercus rufus (Reichenow)
Commonin the undergrowth of the primary forest but showing
no noticeable preference for marshy places as indicated by
Mackworth-Praed and Grant. Occasionally feeding on the
ground.
1082. Petit's Cuckoo-shrike, Campephaqa petiti Oustalet
Commonin some places in glades with scattered trees, and
also on the edge of the high forest.
1083. Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike, Campephaqa phoenicia (Latham)
Not seen in the forest proper but watched building in an
isolated forest patch a few miles to the west, 4th. to 6th.
June 1959.
1084. Purple-throated Cuckoo-shrike, Campephaqa quiscalina Finsch
Not seen in the forest but noted in dense bush in Kakamega
township and probably also occurs in the forest.
1086. Grey Cuckoo-shrike, Coracina caesia (Lichtenstein)
Seen only once, and being an easily seen species, is probably
therefore scarce.
1087. Velvet-mantled Orongo, Oicrurus modestus Hartlaub
1089. Square-tailed Orongo, Oicrurus ludwiqii (Smith)
Both these species were present but it was frequently diffi-
cult to distinguish them. The former appeared to be the
commoner.
1110. Mackinnon's Shrike, Lanius mackinnoni Sharpe
Characteristic of the bushy grassland and areas outside the
forest but one pair seen regularly, and probably nesting, in
an area of secondary forest which was cut by a narrow road.
1127. Ludher's Bush-shrike, Laniarius ludheri Reichenow
Common.
1132. Pink-footed Puffback, OryoscoPUs anqolensis Hartlaub
Commonin secondary forest.
99
Birds of Kakamega Forest
1134. Brown-headed Bush-shrike, Tchaqra austral is (Smith)
Not in the forest proper but noted in an open pine plantation.
1141. Grey-green Bush-shrike, Chlorophoneus bocaqei (Reichenow)
Commonin the bush or glades but not in the heavy forest.
1157. Dusky Tit, Parus funereus (Verreaux)
Common. Nesting 31st. May, 1959.
1167. Black-headed Oriole, Oriolus larvatus Lichtenstein
Common.
1185. Sharpe's Starling, Pholia sharpei (Jackson)
Large flock, of which the majority were young birds, on 4th.
October 1959.
1209. Stuhlmann's Starling, Stilbopsar stuhlmanni Reichenow
Common.
1266. Green-headed Sunbird, Cyanomitra verticalis (Latham)
Commonon the edge of the forest.
1271. Collared Sunbird, ~threptes collaris (Vieillot)
Common; characteristic of the forest edges. Building 25th.
October, 1959.
1272. Grey-throated Sunbird, Anthreptes tephrolaema (Jardine & Fraser)
Uncommon.
1335. Dark-backed Weaver, Symplectes bicolor (Vieillot)
Common, occurring in deep primary forest. Seen once
associating with Black-billed Weavers (q.v.). Building 4th.
October, 1959.
1344. Vieillot's Black Weaver, Melanopteryx niqerrimus (Vieillot)
A nesting colony at the forest station in Acrocarpus and
other exotic trees was occupied in June and July, 1959. The
species was not an inhabitant of the indigenous forest.
1346. Black-billed Weaver, Heteryphantes melanoqaster (Shelley)
Commonin secondary growth. See Dark-backed Weaver above.
1356. Red-headed Malimbe, Malimbus rubricollis (Swainson)
Common.
1374. Marsh Widow-bird, Coliuspasser hartlaubi (Bocage)
In marshy parts of glades.
1376. Red-naped Widow-bird, Coliuspasser laticauda (Lichtenstein)
Several in a large glade on 13th. June, 1959.
1380. Black-and-white Mannikin, Spermestes poensis (Fraser)
On forest edge.
1386. Grey-headed Negro-rinch, Niqrita canica~lla (Strickland)
Inhabiting very dense undergrowth in cut-over forest and
very hard to observe.
1391. Red-headed Blue-bill, Spermophaqa ruficapilla (Shelley)
Probable. Very retiring in undergrowth. (Common; oftencollected in mist nets) J.G.W.
(Received 3rd December 1962)
100


Notes on the birds of Kakamega forest

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Notes on the birds of Kakamega forest

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