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1993 3
A
new species of
Phylloscopus
warbler from Hainan Island, China
URBAN OLSSON', PER ALSTROMZ
&
PETER
R.
COLSTON3
University
of
Goteborg. Department
of
Zoology.
Box
25059,
S-400
3
1
Goteborg, Sweden
Kungsgatan
3,
S-462 33
Vanersborg, Sweden
Bird Group, Zoological Department, The Natural History Museum, Tring. Herts.
HP23 6AP,
UK
Phylloscopus hainanus
is a distinctive new species in the family Sylviidae. The species is
endemic to Hainan Island, China, where it
is
restricted to tropical forest in mountains
above
600
m. The most distinctive plumage features
are
the rather deep yellow underparts
and the mainly white outer rectrices.
In 1986
U.O.
examined four skins of what were labelled as
the Hainan Island subspecies of the Sulphur-breasted War-
bler
P.
ricketti goodsoni
in the Institute of Zoology, Academia
Sinica, Kunming. China (IZASK) (collected at Jian Feng Ling,
Ledong County, west Hainan [18"40'N. 108"45'E], and Diao
Lou, Lingshui County, south Hainan [18"47'N, 110"05'E]).
He was immediately struck by their distinctness from all
other species in the genus and considered that this taxon
might be a distinct species.
In mid-March 1988 P.A. and
U.O.
went to Hainan Island
in order to investigate the taxonomic status of the form.
However, despite thorough surveys
of
apparently suitable
habitat in the vicinity of Qiongzhong in central Hainan. they
were unable to find the warbler. Later the same year, P.A.
and
U.O.
found another specimen of the same form in the
Institute of Zoology, Academia Sinica. Beijing. China (col-
lected at Daio Lou. south Hainan). Colour photographs of
this specimen taken by P.R.C. are lodged in the British Mu-
seum (Natural History), Tring,
U.K.
In April 1988, Stig Jen-
sen (pers. comm.) found the bird to be common at Jian
Feng Ling Forest Reserve, Hainan, and obtained a tape re-
cording of its song. P.A. and
U.O.
noted that the song differed
significantly from that of nominate
P.
ricketti
of the mainland.
In late May 1989, P.A.. P.R.C. and
U.O.
went to Jian Feng
Ling Forest Reserve to study the species. Unfortunately,
breeding was over, and the birds were moving around singly
or in small flocks, singing only sporadically. Nevertheless,
the vocal and morphological distinctness of the form was
confirmed. In May 1990. P.A. examined the specimens in
the Institute of Zoology, Academia Sinica. Kunming, where
he confirmed the observations by
U.O.
In 1990 one of the two specimens from Hainan Island in
the collections of the American Museum of Natural History,
New York, which were considered to be
P.
ricketti goodsoni.
was loaned to the British Museum (Natural History), Tring.
There it was examined by P.R.C., who also took photographs
of it, which he sent to P.A. and
U.O.
To our surprise, it was
not the same form as we had been pursuing on Hainan
Island, but Blyth's Crowned Willow Warbler
P.
reguloides.
Later the same year, P.A. examined the holotype and again
the paratype (the specimen which had previously been sent
to P.R.C.)
of
P.
ricketti goodsoni
in the American Museum of
Natural History. He concluded that on the basis of plumage,
measurements and wing formula they could both be referred
to
P.
reguloides.
Consequently,
P.
ricketti
does not occur on
Hainan Island and
P.
ricketti goodsoni
is a synonym to
P.
reguloides
(Alstrom, Colston
&
Olsson. unpubl.).
The specimens in Beijing and Kunming thus belong to an
undescribed species, for which we propose the name
Phylloscopus
hainanus,
sp.
nov.,
Hainan Leaf Warbler
HOLOTY
PE
Institute of Zoology, Academia Sinica. Beijing no. 52154,
male collected at Diao Lou, Lingshui County, south Hainan,
Guangdong Province, China (18"47'N, 110Q5'E). on 20 April
1962. Collector unknown.
DIAGNOSIS
Medium-sized leaf warbler, with distinctive yellow super-
cilium, pale median crown-stripe and dark eye-stripe. Plum-
~
t
Plate
1.
(above)
Phylloscopus hainanus.
a typical individual. Important characters are the deep yellow underparts and rather faint lateral
crown stripes. Jian Feng Ling, west Hainan,
24
April
1992.
Photo: Urban
Olsson;
(below)
Phylloscopus hainanus.
another typical individual.
The lateral crown stripes are only slightly darker than the mantle, and the median crown stripe is relatively indistinct pale yellow. The outer
tail-feathers are exposed in an unnatural way in this photograph in order to show their distinctive pattern. Jian Feng Ling, west Hainan,
24
ADril
1992.
Photo: Urban Olsson.
4
U.
OLSSON.
P.
ALSTROM
&
P.
R.
COLSTON
IBIS
13
5
age green above and bright yellow below. Pale tips to greater
and median coverts form two wing-bars on each wing. The
two outer pairs of rectrices are entirely white on the inner
webs (Plate
1).
There are distinct emarginations on the outer
webs of primaries 4-8 (numbered descendantly).
DESCRIPTION
OF
HOLOTYPE
Lateral crown-stripes vivid green, marginally darker than
the mantle, turning somewhat darker toward the rear. Me-
dian crown-stripe pale yellow, extending to the bill. Super-
cilium prominent, extending to base of bill, rather deep,
warm yellow throughout its length. Eye-stripe well defined,
approximately same colour as lateral crown-stripes. Rest of
ear-coverts, throat and remainder of underparts a rather
deep, warm yellow, like supercilium. Mantle and scapulars
vivid green, rump slightly paler and more yellowish. Greater
coverts sepia on inner webs and vivid green (like upperparts)
on outer webs, with pale yellowish tips to the
six
to seven
outer coverts, forming
a
distinct wing-bar. Pale yellowish
tips to median coverts also form a wing-bar, although dis-
tinctly narrower than the one on the greater coverts. Outer
edges of tertials same colour as upperparts, as are outer
edges
of
remiges: edges to outer primaries slightly paler.
Outermost two pairs of rectrices (R5,
R6)
are entirely white
on the inner webs.
R4
shows a distinct narrow white edge
on
the inner web. Viewed from below, the inner web
of
R4
appears clearly paler than the outer web. The undenving-
coverts are yellow with some whitish intermixed.
The upper mandible is dark and the lower all pale. The
tarsus, toes and claws are medium dark, the soles paler.
Measurements (mm)-Wing 56.0 (maximum length;
Svensson 1984). tail 37.0, bill-length (to skull) 12.6, bill-
width 2.5 (measured at distal end of nostrils).
Wing formula (primaries [PI numbered descendant1y)-
Wing-point P7
=
P6, P8
-1.
P9 -8.5, P5
-1.0.
P4 -3.0.
P3 -5.0, P2
-8.0,
P1 -9.0,
P10
-25.5; P10
11.0
>
primary
coverts: P9 falls between P1 and P2: P4-P8 are emarginated
on the outer web.
PARATYPES
There are four specimens of
P.
hainanus
in the Institute of
Zoology, Academia Sinica, Kunming, China:
(1)
male, probably first-year, collected by Professor Yang
Lan at Jian Feng Ling, Ledong County, west Hainan (18"40",
108"45'E). at an altitude of 820 m on
30
July 1979;
(2) adult female, collected by Professor Yang Lan at the
same place on 4 August 1979;
(3) adult male, collected by Professor Yang Lan at Diao
Lou. Lingshui County, south Hainan (18"47'N, 11W5'E). at
an altitude
of
640 m on 26 August 1979 and
(4)
adult male collected by Professor Yang Lan at the same
dace
on
27 Aumst 1979.
PARATYPIC VARIATION
There is little variation in plumage among the five known
specimens. Measurements (in mm) of the four paratypes are
(1)
wing 55.0, tail
c.
40 (difficult to measure), bill-length
12.4, bill-width 2.4; (2) wing 49.5. tail 35.5,
bill-length 12.2. bill-width 2.4: (3) wing 52.5, tail 40.5, bill-
length 12.2, bill-width 2.4;
(4)
wing 52.5, tail 41.0. bill-
length 12.6, bill-width 2.4.
ETYMOLOGY
We have chosen to name the species after the island where
it is endemic. By emphasizing the name of this island, we
hope to focus attention on the threats to the vulnerable
natural environment there and stimulate conservation mea-
sures in order to secure the continued survival
of
its unique
ecosystem. Hainan Island harbours one more endemic bird
species, the Hainan Hill Partridge
Arborophila ardens.
and
about 60 subspecies of birds that occur nowhere else in
China (Cheng 1987). many of them nowhere else in the
world. Some of them may deserve full specific status. Most
of them are under severe threat of habitat
loss.
VOCALIZATIONS
The song is high-pitched and consists of a number of rela-
tively short, varied phrases (Fig.
l),
very unlike the rather
stereotyped song
of
P.
ricketti,
but much resembling the song
of the White-tailed Leaf Warbler
P.
davisoni.
It could be
transcribed as
tsitsitsui-tsitsitsui
. .
.
titsu-titsui-titsui
.
.
.
titsu-
titsui-titsui
.
. .
titsu-titsui-titsui
. .
.
tist tsitsui-tsitsui-tsi
.
.
.
pitsu-pitsi-tsu
. .
.
pitsu-pitsi-tsu.
The calls could be transcribed as
pitsitsui. pitsiu
or
pitsi-
pitsu.
or
similar (Fig. 2). They are very close to those of
P.
davisoni.
DISTRIBUTION
As far as we are aware, the species has only been col-
lected
at
two localities in Hainan: Diao
Lou,
south Hai-
nan, and Jian Feng Ling, west Hainan (Fig. 3). One in-
dividual was seen
at
Bawanling on 22 April
1988
by Ben
King (pers. comm.). It seems to be absent
from
suitable
forest near Qiongzhong, south central Hainan. Much
ol
the hill
forest
in Hainan has been cleared, but the species
may occur in isolated pockets where suitable habitat still
exists. In Jian Feng Ling, it is rather common, and its
existence in this
area
does not seem to be under any
major threat
at
present because
at
least part
of
the area
is protected from logging.
At Jian Feng Ling, it occurs mainly in secondary
growth
at
the forest edges, e.g. along the road just outside the
reserve (Fig.
4).
where it appeared to be one of the mosi
NEW
SPECIES
OF
PHYLLOSCOPUS
FROM
CHINA
5
1993
7.
6-
5-
-
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I
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4-
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3
3-
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4-
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8-
7.
6-
i
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J,
5-
>
U
D
U
LL
2-
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E
3-
2-
1'
a
sl
'liliz
I
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I
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7
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0
1
2
Seconds
Figure
1.
(a-c) Sonagrams illustrating different song strophes
of
Phylloscopus hainanus. Recordings by Per Alstrom. Hainan Island,
China, April 1992: sonagrams made by Richard Rank British Li-
brary of Wildlife sounds. Band width 369 Hz.
I
i
common bird species
on
a
visit by
P.A.
and
U.O.
in late
April
1992.
Very few individuals were observed inside
the mature tropical forest.
It is not known whether
or
not the species is migratory.
We are not aware of any records between September and
March, but this may be due to there being few visits by
ornithologists
at
this time.
1992; sonagrams made
by
Richard Ranft. British Library of Wildlife
sounds. Band width
369
Hz.
BREEDING
In late April
1992
at Jian Feng Ling, P.A. and
U.O.
observed
several pairs with fledged young and found one nest with
nearly full-grown young. The nest was situated on the face
of
a steep bank by
a
road, some
170
cm above the road. It
was dome-shaped, with a side entrance, and was built of
slender panicles,
in
combination with broad grass leaves and
a few thin roots and degraded remains of leaves. It was lined
with dense pappus fibres, thin bast from tree-ferns and some
pale brown and yellow feathers.
In late May
1989,
the birds did not seem to be territorial
but moved around in feeding Rocks with other species.
RELATIONSHIPS AND RECOGNITION
Phylloscopus
hainanus
is
identifiable as belonging to the genus
Phylloscopus.
as opposed to
Seicercus,
by the relatively nar-
row-based
bill,
the rather thin and inconspicuous, although
quite long, rictal bristles and typical
Phylloscopus
head pat-
tern.
We have examined a number of specimens of most forms
of Asiatic
Phylloscopus
species and studied several in the field
(see Appendix). On morphological grounds,
P.
hainanus
ap-
pears to be most closely related to
P.
davisoni.
Size, propor-
tions, general plumage pattern and wing formula are similar.
However, all subspecies of
P.
davisoni
are much paler yellow
below and show distinctly darker lateral crown-stripes (at
least posteriorly) and considerably less white on the pen-
ultimate tail-feather. The Sulphur-breasted Warbler
Phyl-
loscopus
ricketti
and the Mountain Leaf Warblers
P.
trivirgatus
trivirgatus
and
P.
t.
parvirostris
share the general plumage
patterns, including rather bright yellow colouration of the
underparts, but show much darker lateral crown-stripes and
lack white outer rectrices. The latter two further differ in
lacking distinct wing-bars and in showing much dark
on
the
lower mandible.
6
U.
OLSSON,
P.
ALSTROM
&
P.
R.
COLSTON
IBIS
135
Figure
3.
and
(2)
Diao Lou Mountain.
Hainan Island. The two localities where specimens of
Phylloscopus
hainanus
have been obtained are
(1)
Jian Feng Ling Forest Reserve
The Timor Leaf Warbler
P.
presbytesfloris,
the Mountain
Leaf Warblers
P.
trivirgatus rnalindangensis.
P.
t.
flavostriatus
and
P.
t.
mindanensis
and the Sulawesi Leaf Warbler
P.
sar-
asinorurn sarasinorurn
show roughly the same amount of white
in the tail and some yellow below. However, they all differ
from
P.
hainanus
in being less brightly coloured. especially
below, in showing less distinct
or
no wing-bars and in usually
showing much dark on the lower mandible.
Vocally,
P.
hainanus
is most reminiscent
of
P.
davisoni.
This
is a further indication of the close relationship with this
species.
MOULT
One of the males in IZASK, collected
26
August 1979 at Diao
Luo. had just finished moult
of
flight feathers (traces of feath-
er sheaths). Another, collected 27 August 1979 at the same
locality, was in the final stages of a complete moult. A female
from Jian Feng Ling, collected
4
August 1979, had just fin-
ished moult, with the exception
of
secondary
6,
which was
still growing.
A
probable first year male from Jian Feng Ling,
collected
30
July 1979, showed no sign of moult. This sug-
gests that adult birds go through a complete moult in July-
Figure
4.
Typical habitat of
Phylloscopus
hainanus.
Most singing
August.
males were in secondary forest
or
scrub at the edge of mature forest.
At
least one male was holding
a
territory
in
the
area
shown
in
this
picture. Jian Feng Ling. west Hainan,
24
April
1992.
Photo: Urban
Olsson.
We are indebted
to
Professors Yang Lan and Cheng Baolai at the
Institute of
Zoology,
Academia Sinica, Kunming, for their kind as-
sistance. Professor Yang Lan provided photograohs
of
soecimens.
1993
NEW
SPECIES
OF
PHYLLOSCOPUS
FROM
CHINA
7
In Beijing, Professors Cheng Tso-hsin. Tan Yao-kuang and Lu Tai-
chun provided invaluable assistance. as did Kiyoaki
Ozaki
and Yoshi-
mitsu Shigeta at the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology, Japan.
We are indebted to Stig Jensen, who supplied information about
distribution and lent
us
tape recordings. We are also grateful to
Richard A.
Sloss
and Mary LeCroy. at the American Museum (Nat-
ural History), New York, for sending
us
specimens and granting
access to the collections, respectively. Dr
G.
F. Mees, Leiden, Kees
Rooselaar, Amsterdam, and Dr Jon Fields& Copenhagen, were all
helpful in various aspects of our research. The sonagrams were
prepared by Richard Ranft at the British Library of Wildlife Sounds,
London. We are also grateful to Dr Alan Knox and Ben King for
comments
on
an earlier draft of this manuscript. The inclusion of a
colour plate was made possible, in part, by a grant from Kungliga
Patriotiska Sallskapet.
REFERENCES
Cheng. Tso-hsin.
1987.
A Synopsis of the Avifauna of China. Ham-
Hartert.
E.
1910.
The birds of Hainan. Novit. 2001.
17:
240.
Sibley, C.G.
&
Monroe, B.L..
Jr.
1990.
Distribution and Taxonomy
of Birds of the World. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Svensson,
L.
1984.
Identification Guide to European Passerines,
3rd ed. Stockholm: Lars Svensson.
Ticehurst,
C.B.
1938.
A
Systematic Review of the Genus
Phyllos-
copus.
London: Trustees of the British Museum.
Watson,
G.E..
Traylor. M.A., Jr.
&
Mayr.
E.
1986.
Family Sylviidae.
Old World warblers.
In
Mayr.
E.
&
Cottrell. G.W. (eds) Checklist
of Birds of the World,
Vol.
11:
3-294.
Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard
Museum of Comparative Zoology.
Williamson,
K.
1967.
Identification for Ringers
2:
the genus
Phyl-
loscopus.
BTO Field Guide
No.
8. Tring: British Trust for Orni-
thology.
burg: Science Press.
Submitted
16
January
1992;
revision received
9
June
1992
APPENDM: SPECIMENS EXAMINED
We have examined the/ollowing relevantjorms mentioned by Hartert (1
910).
Ticehurst
(1938).
Williamson
(1967).
Watson
et al.
(1986)
and Sibley
b
Monroe
(I
990)
in
the American Museum oJNatura1 History, New York, USA;
British Museum (Natural History). Tring.
UK;
Institute
of
Zoology. Academia
Sinica. Beijing. China; Institute oJZoology, Academia Sinica, Kunming, China;
Yamashina Institute
o/
Ornithology, Chiba. Japan; Rijksmuseum van Natuur-
lijke Historie, Leiden, Netherlands, and Zoological Museum, University
o/
Co-
penhagen. Denmark. We have not been able to examine every subspecies ofthe
islandforms. None
o/
the tara
below,
however, appeared to be closely related
to
Phylloscopus hainanus.
Number of Number
of
specimens field
ob-
Species studied servations
Phylloscopus hainanus
P. reguloides reguloides
P. r. kashmiriensis
P. r. assamensis
P.
r.
claudiae
P.
r.
Jokiensis
P. r. ticehursti
P. davisoni davisoni
P.
d. disturbans
P. d. ogilvie-granti
P. d. klossi
P. ricketti ricketti
P. r. goodsoni'
P. trivirgatus trivirgatus
P.
t. mindanensis
P.
t.
malindangensis
P.
t.
peterseni
P.
t.
pavostriatus
P.
t.
parvirostris
P.
t.
kinabaluensis
P.
1.
nigrorum
P. cebuensis cebuensis
P. c. luzonensis
P. olivaceus
P. poliocephalus poliocephalus
P. p. matthiae
P.
p.
henrietta
P.
p.
albigularis
P.
p.
cyclopum
P.
p.
hamlini
P.
p.
moorhousei
P.
p.
majorensis
P.
p.
bougainvillei
P.
p.
pallescens
P.
p.
becki
P.
p.
ceramensis
P.
p.
everetti
P.
p.
waterstradti
P.
p.
giulianettii
P. sarasinorum sarasinorum
P.
s.
nesophilus
P. presbytes presbytes
P.
p.
pons
P. makirensis
P. amoenus
P. ijimae
P. coronatus
5
501
lo+
60
+
20
40
8
70+
10
6
14
40+
3
60
+
1
6
2
1
23
14
35
23
12
38
9
2
7
6
3
4
14
7
24
1
20
10
15
33
54
28
45
14
12
16
5
lo+
120
1
This
form
is.
in
our
opinion. not
a
subspecies
of
P.
ricketti
but
belongs with
P. requloides
(Alstrom.
Colston
&
Olsson.
unouhl.).
