Seicercus misoriensis

Bishop, K. David, 2023, The avifauna of Biak Island, Papua, Indonesia with comments on status, conservation, natural history and taxonomy, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 143 (1), pp. 3-62 : 51

BIAK LEAF WARBLER Seicercus misoriensis # RR, Vulnerable

Range Biak, Supiori.

Taxonomy Beehler & Pratt (2016) noted that the Biak taxon is very distinctive and split it as a separate species from nearby Numfor Leaf Warbler S. maforensis and mainland New Guinea Island Leaf Warbler S. poliocephalus .

Status Endemic species. Obtained by two collectors but not Ripley ( Mayr & Meyer de Schauensee 1939). Seen by very few visitors although eBird records indicate that since 2018 it has been regularly encountered in forest at Warafri in south-east Biak; Gibbs (1993) saw it near Korrido, Supiori, in 1991. The species has a notably long bill and legs, both of which are strikingly coloured ( Fig. 14 ); the difference in biometrics from other leaf warbler taxa presumably relates to a difference in behavioral traits, which further study should seek to elucidate.

Figures

Figure 14. Biak Leaf Warbler Seicercus misoriensis, Biak, November 2010; note the lack of an obvious pale supercilium, dull coloration and, especially, the relatively long flesh-coloured bill and brightly coloured legs (© Mikael Bauer)