CUCULIDAE (20 species)

Clamator coromandus Chestnut-winged-Cuckoo
Acc Palau.
Cuculus fugax Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo
C. f. subsp.? Acc Palau.
C. canorus Common Cuckoo
C. c. canorus (incl telephonus) Cas Ogasawara Is, Iwo Is. Acc Palau, Hawaiian Is (Scott et al 2001).
C. optatus (= horsfieldii, see HANZAB) Oriental Cuckoo
Formerly considered part of C. saturatus Himalayan Cuckoo, which occurs to west of optatus. Measurements of several specimens of presumed C. optatus from Australia yield smaller birds which may be C. saturatus, but this is inconclusive at this point (HANZAB). There appear to be no documented records of C. saturatus in the Pacific Region.
Vis Nov-Jun Palau, Caroline Is (Yap). Cas Ogasawara Is, Iwo Is, Solomon Is (Buka, Nov Nukumanu, Apr Bougainville-Gregory, Oct Choiseul-Diamond, Hadden 2004a), Dec-May Lord Howe I (2 recs, McAllan et al 2004), Oct- Feb Norfolk I, NZ (NI, SI), Dec Snares Is.
F: Palau (a few each winter, uncommon, Engbring 1988).
C. poliocephalus Little Cuckoo
Cas Ogasawara Is, Iwo Is.
C. pallidus Pallid Cuckoo
This species may be generically distinct from Cuculus (Christidis and Boles 2008).
Cas Norfolk I, NZ (NI, SI). Acc Aug-Sep Lord Howe I (McAllan et al 2004), Sep Macquarie I (HANZAB).
Cacomantis variolosus Brush Cuckoo
Plumage and calls of addendus differ from those of other subsp (HANZAB).
C. v. addendus Res Solomon Is except Rennell. Acc Nov Lord Howe I (McAllan et al 2004).
F: Solomon Is (Guadalcanal: several heard Mt Austen, Richards. Makira: several heard around Hauta, Richards). Santa Isabel: rare Garanga R, Kratter et al 2001).
C. v. subsp? Cas Palau.
C. flabelliformis Fan-tailed Cuckoo
Precedence of flabelliformis over pyrrhophanus is discussed by Christidis and Boles (1994). C. f. pyrrhophanus includes meeki, sometimes used for birds occurring in the Solomon Is, although these are doubtfully separable and it is currently thought that these are wintering individuals of nominate C. f. pyrrhophanus of New Caledonia (Mayr and Diamond 2001).
C. f. pyrrhophanus Res New Caledonia (Grande Terre, Loyalty Is; Barre and Dutson 2000 suggest migratory, most common Sep-Mar). Cas Solomon Is (Apr-Oct Santa Isabel, Guadalcanal, Bellona, Rennell). Acc NZ (Jun-Dec SI), Feb and May Lord Howe I (McAllan et al 2004).
F: New Caledonia (PTRB, Mt Koghi, Quested; "quite unlike Aust or PNG birds", Gregory); Solomon Is (Kolombangara: 3 Camp Professor Jul, Richards).
C. f. schistaceigularis Res Vanuatu incl Banks Is (Gaua, Valua).
C. f. simus Res Fiji (Viti Levu, Ovalau, Kadavu, Taveuni and nearby islands).
Chalcites lucidus Shining Cuckoo
Christidis and Boles (2008) separated Austro-Papuan Chalcites from African Chrysococcyx on genetic grounds.
C. l. lucidus Breeds Norfolk I, NZ (fewest Mar-Sep; NI, SI, Stewart I), Chatham Is. Vis Nov-Jun, most Feb Lord Howe I (McAllan et al 2004), Norfolk I, Kermadec Is, Mar-Sep Solomon Is (Hadden 2004a) incl Nissan and atolls north of Bougainville (Hadden 2004b). Cas Oct-Jan Snares Is (Miskelly et al 2001). Acc Nov Macquarie I (HANZAB), Nov Auckland Is, May Vanuatu (Efate, Bregulla 1992), Jul-Nov New Caledonia (Grande Terre, Loyalty Is, HANZAB, Barre and Dutson 2000), Caroline Is (Kapingamarangi I, Buden 1998).
F: Solomon Is (Santa Isabel: unc Garanga R Jun-Jul, Kratter et al 2001).
C. l. plagosus Cas Apr-Nov Solomon Is (HANZAB) incl Nuguria (Tarburton 2006).
C. l. layardi ( incl aeneus) Res Solomon Is (Santa Cruz Is: Utupua), New Caledonia (Grande Terre, Loyalty Is), Vanuatu incl Banks Is (Gaua, Vanua Lava).
F: New Caledonia (PTRB, Mt Koghi, Quested; PTRB, Gregory). Loyalty Is (Lifou: Nov, Quested; Dec, Gregory).
C. l. harterti This subspecies is quite distinctive (Mayr and Diamond 2001).
Res Solomon Is (Rennell, Bellona).
C. l. subsp? (migrant lucidus or res harterti)
F: Solomon Is (Rennell: 10 on road to L Tenggano Jun, Richards).
Eudynamys scolopaceus Asian (Common) Koel
David and Gosselin (2002b) established that Eudynamys is masculine. Taxonomy of scolopaceus and cyanocephalus is not settled, although females are fairly distinct; narrow species limits may be advisable based on brood parasitism and the differences between females (Gregory). E. s. alberti is quite distinctive (Mayr and Diamond 2001), and may be more correctly placed with cyanocephalus (=orientalis, see below; Christidis and Boles 2008).
E. s. alberti Res Solomon Is except Rennell.
F: This sp? Heard track to Tenaroo Falls, Guadalcanal, around Hauta, Makira Jun (Richards). Unc Garanga R, Isabel (spec; Kratter et al 2001).
E. orientalis Australian Koel
Christidis and Boles (2008) noted that orientalis has precedence over cyanocephalus .
E. o. subcyanocephalus ?Vis Solomon Is Mar-Nov.
F: 1 heard Mt Austen and Isabel-Tirotongna Jun (Hornbuckle 1999).
E. o. subsp. Acc Nov Lord Howe I (McAllan et al 2004), NZ (Mar SI, Medway 2000). Listed (Medway 2000) as E. scolopaceus, but orientalis seems more likely if orientalis is considered specifically distinct from scolopaceus.
Urodynamis taitensis Long-tailed Koel (Cuckoo)
This species is currently considered distinctive at the generic level (Dickinson 2003, Christidis and Boles 2008).
Breeds Sep-Apr NI, SI, Stewart I. Vis Apr-Oct Palau, Caroline Is, Marshall Is (Spennemann and Benjamin 2004), Kiribati, Solomon Is incl Nissan and atolls north of Bougainville (Hadden 2004b; year-old birds do not return to NZ to breed and remain in Solomons, Hadden 2004a), Vanuatu, Kermadec Is (a few all year, Veitch et al 2004), Fiji, Tuvalu, Wallis and Futuna, Samoa, Niue, Tonga, Cook Is most Mar-Aug (Holyoak 1980), Society Is mostly Jun-Sep, Marquesas Is, Tuamotu Is, Gambier Is, Pitcairn Is. Cas migrant New Caledonia (Barre and Dutson 2000), Lord Howe I (5 recs incl Jan-Feb, McAllan et al 2004), Jan, Mar, and Oct Norfolk I. Acc Mariana Is (Jun Guam, Jul Sarigan, Wiles et al 2000), Sep-Mar Chatham Is (Miskelly et al 2006), Snares Is, Auckland Is. Hypo Nov Antipodes Is (Tennyson et al 2002).
F: 2 seen Aug Savaii, silent (Reed 1980). One Kiribati Jul (Child 1982).
Scythrops novaehollandiae Channel-billed Cuckoo
Mayr and Diamond (2001) suggest that "the great majority" of birds occurring in the Solomon Is are wintering Australian birds.
S. n. novaehollandiae? Cas Solomon Is (Savo, Simbo, Rennell, Mayr and Diamond 2001). Acc Jun New Caledonia (Hindwood 1953, Barre and Bachy 2003), Nov Norfolk I (McAllan et al 2004), Oct-Jan NI, Dec SI.
Coccyzus erythropthalmus Black-billed Cuckoo
Acc Galapagos Is (Espanola).
C. americanus Yellow-billed Cuckoo
C. a. subsp? Acc Hawaiian Is (Scott et al 2001), Clipperton I.
C. ferrugineus Cocos Cuckoo
Res Cocos I.
C. melacoryphus Dark-billed Cuckoo
Res Galapagos Is. Acc Aug Clipperton I.
F: 6 Floreana and Santa Cruz, near Darwin Station (Chartier).
Centropus milo Buff-headed Coucal
The two subspecies are quite distinctive (Mayr and Diamond 2001).
C. m. albidiventris Res Solomon Is (Vella Lavella, Bagga, Ganongga, Simbo, Kolombangara, Ghizo, Kohingga, New Georgia, Vangunu, Nggatokae, Rendova, Tetepare).
F: Solomon Is (Ghizo: several near Gizo, Richards; Kolombangara: 2 near Iriri, Richards; Vangunu: Lagoon Lodge, Talbot).
C. m. milo Res Solomon Is (Florida Is incl Buena Vista, Guadalcanal).
F: Several Mt Austen and track to Tenaroo Falls, Guadalcanal (Richards).
Crotophaga ani Smooth-billed Ani
Int Galapagos Is (Isabela, Santa Cruz, Santa Maria, San Salvador). Acc Cocos I (Easley and Montoya 2006).
F: fairly common most islands (Chartier).
C. sulcirostris Groove-billed Ani
Acc Socorro I, Galapagos Is (int?).


STRIGIDAE (11 species)

Pyrroglaux podargina Palau Scops-Owl
Included until recently in Otus (see Dickinson 2003).
Res Palau (larger is incl Peleliu).
F: Palau (all major islands, incl smaller high limestone islands, but rare on Angaur and level sandy islands; common interior Babelduab, savannas, high limestone island forests, esp river bottoms; active at dusk, Engbring 1988; up to 10 heard one night Peleliu, Talbot).
Bubo virginianus Great Horned Owl
B. v. subsp.? Int Marquesas Is (Hiva Oa).
F: Marquesas Is (Hiva Oa: sea level to 1000m, Chester et al 1998).
Micrathene whitneyi Elf Owl
M. w. graysoni Extinct? Res Revillagigedo Is (Socorro I; none found there 1978 and 1981, Jehl and Parkes 1982).
Athene noctua Little Owl
A. n. vidalii? (HANZAB). Int SI.
A. cunicularia Burrowing Owl
A. c. rostrata Res Guadalupe I, Revillagigedo Is (Clarion I).
Ninox novaeseelandiae Southern Boobook (Morepork)
Christidis and Boles (2008), in combining novaeseelandiae and boobook, pointed out that findings of Norman et al (1998) have been mis-interpreted in the literature and did not in fact provide evidence for species status of the two forms; Norman et al (1998) used leucopsis of Tasmania in their study but had no representative of Australian boobook.
N. n. boobook Int, now extirp, Lord Howe I (McAllan et al 2004).
N. n. albaria Extinct. Formerly res Lord Howe I.
N. n. undulata Res Norfolk I, now only hybrids (est 40, Christian 2005) with N. n. novaeseelandiae extant.
F: Present NINP sw corner 1984-85 (Hermes). In 1987, only one fem remained, so 2 males novaeseelandiae introduced (Moore 1999). Last endemic female "expired" 1996, now only 15 hybrids undulata/novaeseelandiae and an introduced male novaeseelandiae at end of 1996 (Bielewicz birding-aus 1999; Moore 1999). Although not peak calling season, 3-4 heard near Cook Mem and Red Rock track Jun 2005 (Ewin).
N. n. novaeseelandiae Res NI, SI, Stewart I. Cas Snares Is (Miskelly et al 2001).
N. scutulata Brown Hawk-Owl
N. s. japonica Acc Ogasawara Is (Chichijima), Iwo Is (Kita-iwojima). Hypo Palau (Pyle and Engbring 1985), Mariana Is (Rota, Pratt et al 1987, Reichel and Glass 1991).
N. jacquinoti Solomon Islands Hawk-Owl
Mayr and Diamond (2001) separate the following subspecies into three distinctive groups: eichhorni/mono/jacquinoti/floridae; granti; and malaitae/roseoaxillaris.
N. j. eichhorni Res Buka, Bougainville, Solomon Is (Shortland Is, Choiseul).
F: heard Bougainville (Gregory).
N. j. mono Res Solomon Is (Mono).
N. j. jacquinoti Res Solomon Is (Santa Isabel incl San Jorge).
F: Common Garanga R, Isabel (Kratter et al 2001). Tirotongna (Hornbuckle 1999).
N. j. floridae Res Solomon Is (Florida Is).
N. j. granti Res Solomon Is (Guadalcanal).
F: 2 heard Mt Austen (Hornbuckle 1999).
N. j. malaitae Res Solomon Is (Malaita).
N. j. roseoaxillaris Res Solomon Is (Makira, Ugi Is, Santa Catalina).
Sceloglaux albifacies Laughing Owl
S. a. rufifacies Extinct. Res formerly NI.
S. a. albifacies Extinct. Res formerly SI, Stewart I.
Asio otus Long-eared Owl
A. o. otus Acc Ogasawara Is (Apr Torishima), Iwo Is (Kita-iwojima).
A. flammeus Short-eared Owl
A. f. flammeus Cas s Izu Is (Torishima), Ogasawara Is (Hahajima), Mariana Is (Guam, Tinian, Saipan, Reichel and Glass 1991, Pagan, Spennemann 2004), Caroline Is (Kosrae, hypo Yap), Marshall Is (Spennemann 2004), w Hawaiian Is (Kure, Midway), Revillagigedo Is (Clarion, Socorro, Howell and Webb 1995).
A. f. ponapensis Res Caroline Is (Pohnpei 12 inds).
F: "more numerous than literature indicates" poss 50+; 4 seen savanna area just outside Kolonia 18:00 hrs (Buden 2000).
A. f. sandwichensis Res Hawaiian Is.
F: Hawaiian Is (Hawaii: common n half Saddle Rd, Pratt 1993; Mauai: lower slopes Haleakala, esp between Pulalani and Hakeakala NP, Pratt 1993; Kauai: nr parking lot Kilauea NWR, Lindsay).
A. f. galapagoensis Res Galapagos Is (except Fernandina, Wenman, Culpepper).
A. f. suinda Res Juan Fernandez Is.
Nesasio grammicus Fearful Owl
Res Solomon Is (Bougainville, Choiseul, Santa Isabel).
F: Santa Isabel: one heard Tirotongna, Hornbuckle.


TYTONIDAE (4 species)

Tyto novaehollandiae Masked Owl
T. n. castanops sometimes treated as full species (Sibley and Monroe 1990).
T. n. castanops (May have been some T. n. novaehollandiae introduced also, McAllan et al 2004). Int 10+ prs Lord Howe I.
T. javanica Eastern Barn Owl
Recent studies (see Christidis and Boles 2008) suggest that Barn Owls of southern Asia, Australia, and the southwest Pacific are separable at the species level, as are those of the Americas; the specific epithet for the former is javanica, which has precedence over delicatula, and for the latter furcata, which is the oldest name available (Christidis and Boles 2008).
The subspecies bellonae is not recognized by Mayr and Diamond (2001); any or all of bellonae, interposita, lifuensis, and lulu are doubtfully separable.
Worthy (BIRDING-NZ) believes that Barn Owls have colonized all islands that they occupy east of the Solomons (Fiji, Niue etc) during the last 3000 years (Niue 2100 years, Samoa 1200 years), and were not there before humans came to these islands and introduced Pacific Rat (kiore). Worthy believes also that this rapid spread would be relatively unlikely if only one owl ever dispersed out side its existing range at one time so it seems likely they have a propensity to colonize in small groups.
T. j. javanica (=delicatula) Cas Feb-Apr and Jun-Nov NI, SI, also Norfolk I (Hermes). Int Lord Howe I, now prob extirpated; fresh skeleton Feb 1971, likely vagrant (Hutton 1991).
T. j. crassirostris Res Solomon Is incl Nissan, Buka, Bougainville (Hadden 2004a, 2004b), Rennell.
T. j. bellonae Res Solomon Is (Bellona).
T. j. interposita Res Solomon Is (Santa Cruz Is: Nendo, Vanikoro), Vanuatu (s to Efate), Banks Is (Vanua Lava).
F: Vanuatu (Santo: prob reasonably easy in coconut plantations at night, Ewin).
T. j. lifuensis (Included in T. j. javanica (=delicatula) by HANZAB and Barre and Dutson 2000). Res s Vanuatu (Erromango, Tanna, Aneityum), New Caledonia (Grande Terre, Loyalty Is).
F: 1 PTRB (Fairbank).
T. j. lulu Res Fiji, Rotuma, Wallis and Futuna, Tonga (incl Nuiafou, Rinke 1986), Samoa (Savaii, Upolu, Tutuila, Manua Is), Niue.
F: Mt Vaea, Vaisigano (Lonsdale). Common Savaii (Reed 1980).
T. furcata New World Barn Owl
T. f. punctatissima Res Galapagos Is.
T. f. pratincola Int Hawaiian Is w to Kauai. Acc NI: remains of one in aircraft undercarriage from USA via Hawaii (HANZAB). Int Lord Howe I, now extirpated (Hutton 1991).
F: Hawaiian Is (Kauai: Kilauea Pt, open fields in area on n shore, Pratt 1993; Hawaii: Hakalau NWR, Lindsay).
T. f. subsp? Cas Revillagigedo Is (Apr-May Socorro, Howell and Webb 1995; see also Jehl and Parkes 1982).
T. longimembris (incl walleri) Eastern Grass Owl
Often considered conspecific with T. capensis; includes oustaleti.
Res New Caledonia (Grande Terre, Loyalty Is: ?Lifou, Barre and Dutson 2000), Fiji (Viti Levu, possibly extirpated).
F: New Caledonia (rare and/or discrete, may only be visitor, Barre and Dutson 2000).