Some birds of the Wallace Line

Part 1. Wallace Line east

The Wallace Line goes through the Malay Archipelago (Wallacea) - the largest grouping of islands on earth. This invisible yet physical bio-geographical boundary coincides with the centre thread of the Lombok strait, a 250m-deep trench that separates the continental shelves of Sunda (Asia) and Sahul (Australia). Wallace Line delineates the sudden change of species composition to its west (Indo-Malayan) and east (Australian) ecozones. The line also separates marine life between the Asian and Australian landmasses. Understanding the Wallace Line leads to understanding biodiversity, geology and evolution. Wallace Line was named after Alfred Russell Wallace, the co-founder of natural selection. In his travels in 1856, Wallace first observed the different birds, then the divergent animal species on either side of the 12km to 35km-wide Lombok Strait. This led him to discover his ‘Wallace line’. The line extends from Bali, in Indonesia, to the Celebes Sea just south of the Philippines.

On a whim I thought to follow Wallace’s footsteps. The journey to see the more than 17 thousand islands of Wallacea starts with visiting just one. I set my very first footstep on Bali in the Lesser Sundas. From there I also visited Flores and Komodo islands in East Nusa Tenggara. That’s a great start- only 17,497 islands to go. I think it’s easier to do the Philippine Archipelago, there’s only 7,123 islands there… Back to Wallace and birds- 23 new species and subspecies were named after Wallace. Some of these birds are on the list below. Except for two species from Komodo Island, all these birds were found and photographed in mainland Flores. These 20 birds are endemic to just one island or two, or a few or all of the Lesser Sunda Islands. Most are rare and endangered throughout their native range. They generally inhabit subtropical and tropical forests at all altitudes from the mountains to sea level. Some birds persist in agricultural areas but like most wildlife, are threatened by pesticides and toxic products. However, their rapid population decline is mostly due to the pet trade.

SITE 1. This list starts in Gunung (Mount) Mbeliling in the land of the Manggarai. Mbeliling is the highest mountain in the west of the island of Flores. Its forested slopes and surrounding foothills is the home and sanctuary of at least 125 species of birds. Ten of the total 25 species seen in the Mbeliling area are on this list.

1.    Wallacean Drongo. Red-eyed, glossy-black bird with a heavy bill and shallow-forked, fanned tail.

2.       This nondescript, short-tailed stub-billed songbird Golden-rumped Flowerpecker only exists on two small Sunda Islands, Sumbawa and Flores. 

3.       Flame-breasted Sunbird is native to Indonesia and Timor Leste, but only exists in a relatively small geographical area from the island of Sumbawa East to Timor.

4.       Tenggara Paradise-Flycatcher. Only caught a fleeting blur of this breeding male’s trailing long streamers that are almost double the length of his body.

5.       Dark-crowned Heleia. Sometimes called “dark-eye” due to its unusual plumage, shape, and eggs all different from other White-eye species.

6.       Flores Heleia. A gray-and-white songbird with a diagnostic head pattern.

7.       Yellow-spectacled Heleia. A small green songbird with a bright yellow head and a distinctive orange forehead smudge.

8.       White-rumped Kingfisher. Distinctive purplish-blue upperparts, white underparts and a bright orange-red bill.

9.       Flores Minivet. This smallish minivet only exists in Sumbawa and Flores. It prefers forest habitats and is generally uncommon.

10.   Wallacean Cuckooshrike. Widespread in the Lesser Sundas and some adjacent Indonesian islands according to classifications. Common in Flores but much rarer on some other islands.

SITE 2. The hillsides of Cibal range (north of Ruteng, Manggarai Regency) is the habitat of some spectacular birds. 23 species seen here.

11.   Wallace’s Hanging-Parrot. Endemic to Flores and inhabiting a limited range, this arboreal parrot is also known as the Flores hanging parrot.

12.  Black-fronted Flowerpecker. Small but spectacular short-tailed songbird. This male exhibits its bright red throat and dark gray cheeks.

SITE 3. Danau (Lake) Ranamese is a mountainous nature reserve in East Manggarai regency. The 21m-deep lake itself sits at 1220m above sea level. It is barricaded and surrounded by dense forests, ideal habitat for various birds. Total 18 species.
 
13.   Brown-capped Fantail. A little forest bird that only exists on Sumbawa, Flores and Lembata.

14.   Chestnut-backed Thrush. A striking ground bird with a black-and-white head pattern, a chestnut back, prominent white wing markings. This species is rapidly declining if not nearly extinct.

SITE 4. At 1750m altitude, Golo Lusang saddle is in the Waso mountains of Langke Rembong, south of Ruteng. This mountain lookout offers magnificent views of Sumba Island and Savu Sea. There’s also a small matter of great birdwatching. Nine species seen here including the Warbling White-eye, Eyebrowed Heleia and Leaf Lorikeet.
 
15.   Sunda Honeyeater. Plain olive-plumaged honeyeater with a slender typical downcurved black bill.

16.   Bare-throated Whistler. Usually solo, this olive-coloured, black-faced and black-headed male sports its diagnostic red patch of bare skin on its throat.

SITE 5. Gateway to Komodo Island, the town of Labuan Bajo is on the west coast of Nusa Tenggara. 22 species.
 
17.   Ornate Pitta. A multi-coloured plump, short-tailed, long-legged, and primarily terrestrial bird. It sometimes gets on a perch to call, which allowed for a chance of photos in this instance. This bird has somehow persisted within secondary forest and small patches near residential areas. However, there is doubt of its tolerance of the degrading habitat due to pressures caused by human activity.

18.   Great-billed Parrot. Green parrot with a large red bill and distinctive yellow markings on its wings.

SITE 6. Komodo Island. 22 species.
 
19.   Barred Dove is a long-tailed dove with distinctive orange eye ring and barring all over its body.

20.   The rare and endangered Yellow-crested Cockatoo is all-white with a yellow-orange crest. It pays its dues in the food chain with its eggs and chicks serving as prey for Komodo dragons, and two birds of prey: the Spotted Kestrel, and the White-bellied Sea-eagle.

Ps. The 20 birds above are only some of 70 bird species seen in the east of the Wallace Line in Flores and Komodo Islands (East Nusa Tengarra) over a five-day period earlier this year.