New biogeographic records in the avifauna of Peleng Island (Sulawesi, Indonesia), with taxonomic notes on some endemic taxa

摘要

The island of Peleng is the largest of the Banggai archipelago. It is 14 km south-east of eastern Sulawesi and 80 km west of the Sula Islands. However, despite Peleng's low degree of isolation, its bird community is characterised by unusually high endemism, with a surprisingly pronounced Sula avifaunal element. Little is known about the birds of Peleng, as the island has been largely neglected by collectors and field ornithologists alike. We present new data on the birds of Peleng, partially based onan intensive recent survey of the highland avifauna in the west of the island, but also on long-term research and conservation work at lower elevations. We report new elevational data for 23 species, as well as 16 species new for the island. Most of thenew island records fill artefactual gaps in the distribution of species known to occur on Sulawesi to the west and on the Sula Islands to the east. Four new island records are genuine eastward range extensions of Sulawesi taxa or westward extensions ofSula species. We provide details on the discovery, morphology and vocalisations of up to five apparently undescribed taxa, with one or two probably new species to science, although their scientific description awaits the collection of specimens. Lastly,we comment on the taxonomy of several Banggai birds that require urgent systematic revision using genetic or vocal data.