1948 A. MORRISON : BIRDS OF SOUTH PERU 119

NOTES ON T H E BIRDS OF T H E PAMPAS RIVER VALLEY, SOUTH PERU.

By ALASTAIR MORRISON. Rcceived on 15 May 1947.

My second expedition to Peru had very much the same objects as my first one. I wished to continue the work I had started in Huancavelica to the south through the Department of Apurimac, and later to collect live birds again on Lake Junin. Unfortunately ill-health and the outbreak of war completely prevented my carrying out the latter part of the programme, and seriously interfered with the former, but I was ablc to collect skins for two months in the Pampas River valley, in an area which I believe to have hitherto been entirely unworked. ‘I’he results of this form the subject of the present paper.

I am not aware of any previous work having been undertaken on the birds of the Pampas Valley. There are, in fact, very few records of any sort for the Department of Ayacucho and, to the best of my knowledge, none at all for the Department of Apurimac. In the seventies of the last century Jelski collected at Huanta, in thc subtropical zone north of Ayacucho and at Monterico, in the tropical zone of the same area. These collections were reported on by Taczanowski ( I Liste des oiseaux recueillis par M. Con- stantin Jelski dans la partie centralc du Pcrou occidental ’, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1874 : 501).

At the commencement of the century the extreme west of the Department (Loichos and Pauza) were visited by Kalinowski. The collections which he made were reported on by Berlepsch and Stolzmann ( I Oiseaux recueillis par M. J. Kalinowski dans le departement d’Ayacucho, Perou occidental ’, Ornis, 13 : 66). Thirty-two species were recorded, but they arc mostly forms from thc Pacific slope of the Andes.

Much work has, of course, been done in the Department of Cuzco, to the south-east. The most important work on the ornithology of that Department is Chapman’s ‘ Distribution of bird life in the Urubamba Valley of Peru ’, 1921. Further north my own contribution on the Birds of the Department of Huancavelica is to be found in Ibis ’, 1939 : 453.

The Pampas River constitutes the boundary between the Departments of Ayacucho and Apurimac. My first station was at Ninabamba, altitude 7000 feet, an hacienda on the road from Ayacucho to Cuzco and about 80 miles south-east of the former town. During my visit it marked the limit of motor traffic while a bridge was in the course of construction over the river, which lay a little way below. The valley here is in the arid sub- tropical zone, the rainfall being scanty, and the vegetation mainly a type of sparse thorn scrub. With the aid of irrigation sugar-cane, oranges and

120 A. MORRISON : BIRDS OF SOUTH PERU IBIS, 90

bananas are grown. The valley is fairly wide and open and the river flows through extensive shingle flats. I stayed here from 25 August to 17 Sep- tember 1939 and collected 105 skins.

On 9 September I also visited a locality called Chumbes, above Ninabamba at an altitude of 9OOO feet, on the road to Ayacucho. It was quite typical of the arid temperate zone. Twelve skins were obtained.

From 17 September to 20 October I stayed at a large modem hacienda called Ahuayro, some eight miles upstream from Ninabamba. The valley here was of exactly similar type to Ninabamba and the avifauna identical. Of very much greater interest were some temperate woods above Ahuayro, the birds of which were of the humid temperate zone. These woods began a little way above Ahuayro, at about 8000 feet, and I did a little collecting here. But at about 9000 feet, at a place called Pomayaco, some one and a half hours’ ride from Ahuayro, there were some quite extensive and very beautiful woods which were most interesting. This belt of woods did not extend very much higher and connected abruptly with the lower level of the Puna zone. Work here was particularly agreeable since the woods were intersected by a broad grassy track leading to an abandoned copper mine. During my stay in Ahuayro I collected 187 specimens and my grand total was 304 skins of 66 species.

It had been my original intention to continue right through to Cuzco, collecting en route, but a bout of sickness forced me to return to Lima and I had reluctantly to abandon the project. I later made another attempt to continue collecting near Huanuco but was again forced to abandon it through ill-health after only a few days’ work. The few results I obtained will appear separately, The nomenclature followed is based on Hellmayr’s ‘ Birds of the Americas ’ and Peters’ ‘ Check list of the birds of the world ’.

Ackwowledgments.-I would like to express my sincere thanks to Mr. V. C. W. Forbes, the British Minister in Lima, who again arranged with the Peruvian authorities for the passage of my baggage and equipment through the Customs and for the issue of the necessary collecting permits. Not only has Mr. Forbes been of great material assistance to me, but both he and Mrs. Forbes have taken a most kind and sympathetic interest in my work which has been very helpful and encouraging.

I received every possible courtesy and facility from all the Peruvian officials with whom I came in contact. Nothing could be more friendly, liberal or agreeable than the attitude adopted by the Government of Peru towards travellers who desire to wander through that most beautiful and fascinating country.

Don Roberto Vivanco and his brother Don Alfredo kindly entertained me during my stay at their hacienda Ahuayro. Their boundless hospitality and the practical assistance they afforded me in my work made this month by far the most pleasant that I have spent in South America.

1948 A. MORRISON : BIRDS OF SOUTH PERU 121

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Davies, and later Mr. and Mrs. Harry WelL, again helped me very greatly by generously allowing me to use the Huancayo Magnetic Observatory a8 a base for my work. I am also very grateful to Dr. Wetmore of the U.S. National Museum who kindly allowed me to send my collection to that Institution for safe custody during part of the war. My friend Mr. H. B. Usher of the Bird Room did much preliminary work on my collections which greatly expedited the production of this paper when I finally returned to England in 1947. And, as usual, I have to thank Mr. Kinnear for so many acts of kindness and so much useful help and advice that I cannot enumerate them all here.

SYSTEMATIC LIST.

NOTHOPRWTA PENTLANDII OUSTALETI Berlepsch & Stolzmann. 3 d$; 2 ??. Quite common at the high levels, where I found them at all localities visited. I also

once saw an example at Pajonal, near Ninabamba. They seem to favour the cultivated plots, where they come out to feed in the early morning. The skins agree with one from " Lima " collected by Nation and identified as omtaleti by the late Dr. Hellmayr. There are no specimens offufwescens in the British Museum available for comparison.

NOTHOPROCTA TACZANOWSKII Sclater & Salvin. The one obtained was the only example seen, in the fringe of the woods at Pomayaco.

COLUMBA MACULOSA ALBIPENNIS Sclater & Salvin. 1 6 ; 2 99. Quite common everywhere save in the actual valley floor, but in the true woodland

COLUMBA ALBILINEA ALBILINEA Bp. 3 d$. Abundant in the woods at Pomayaco.

ZENAIDURA AURICULATA HYPOLEUCA (Bp.) &L Found everywhere in the arid places.

EUPELIA CRUZIANA (Knip & PrOvost). This little dove was common in the valley at Ninabamba and Ahuayro, favouring

the arid places where there was some scrubby growth. I t has been previously re- corded from Huanta, on the Huancayo to Ayacucho road, where it was obtained by Jelski.

1 $.

To judge from what I was told the species may also occur at Chumbes.

it is replaced by the next species.

1 6; 5 97.

GYMNOPELIA CECILI~D CECILI~D (Lesson). 3 $3 ; 3 99. Common in all arid places, their favourite haunts being steep banks and cliffs.

This always fades to greyish I noted that the iris of a wounded bird was bright blue. immediately after death.

LEPTOPTILA VERREAUXI DECIPIENS (Salvadori). 5 d$; 1 9. A rather solitary species abundant on the valley floor in irrigated places where there

is luxuriant vegetation. They extend a little way up on to the arid slopes of the valley where they overlap with Zmuidura, but the present species is very much more of a ground dove. They were breeding during my stay.

PTILOSCELYS RESPLENDENS (Tschudi). I frequently saw two birds on the shingle flats by the river at Ninabamba. It seems

a very low altitude for this species.

122 A. MORRISON : BIRDS OF SOUTH PERU IBIS, 90

NE~TION FLAVIROBTRIS OXYPTBRA Meyen. A pair seen on the Pampas River at Ninabamba on 29 August, PHALACROCORAX OLIVACEUS OLIVACEUS (Humboldt). Odd birds were nearly always to be seen on the Pampas. Lmus BBRRANUS Tschudi. There were usually two or three to be seen on the river. ARATINGA MITRATA MITRATA (Tschudi). Common at Ninabamba and Ahuayro, but usually in twos and threes and greatly

AMTINGA WACLERI MINOR Carriker. 2 Yp. Very common in flocks at Ninabamba, though I did not record it from Ahuayro.

1 did not at first realize that these two species were distinct, but apart from differences of size and coloration, nritrutu has a very much deeper and harsher voice than thc present species. My specimens agree with the description of minor in their dark coloration and the large extent of red on the tibiee. Wing measurements 187 and 189 mm. The character given for the shape of the notch on the maxilla also holds good. Compared with the only specimen of minor available in the British Museum (from ViGa, Huamachuco) my two skins are deeper red on the forehead and darker green below and lack any yellow on the tibire.

1 6; 3 99.

outnumbered by the next species.

Thcy may prove to bc separable. BOLBORHYNCHUS ANDICOLUS (Finsch). 4 $$.; 1 3. Common in the temperate woods, occurring in large flocks. GLAUCIDIUM BRASILIANUM BRASILIANUM (Gmclin). Not uncommon on the valley floor.

One shot in an orange grove at Ninabumba.

One seen soaring above Pomayaco on 25 September. PHALCOWNUS MEGALOPTE~US MEGALOITERUS (Me yen). Scen at Pomayaco. CATHARTES AURA JOTA (Molina). Not uncommon in the valley. PARADUTEO UNICINCTUS UNICINCTUS (Temmmck). .S (I). The only one seen was shot on 28 August by the river. GMRANOAETUS MELANOLEUCUS AUSTRALIS Swann. Common everywhere. FALCO SPARVERIUS PERUVIANUS (Cory). 3 , . Extremely abundant everywhere. FALCO FUSCO-CLERULESCENS P I C H I N C H ~ Chapman. One seen Pomayaco 14 October in the woods. MICROPUS ANDECOLUS PERUVIANUS Chapman. 2 ?$. Very common over the river.

This immense swift was common in the valley and I even saw examples at Pomayaco. To see a party of them come shooting down a hillside, with the wind literally whistling through their wings, is a most impressive sight. They are not easy birds to shoot, but appear to have certain fixed lines of flight. I once saw a very large number at Ahuayro feeding on flying ants. I also saw some at Ayacucho on 22 October.

1 3 ; 3 , 5 . Their habits arc largely diurnal.

*US CHOLIBA CRUCIGERUS (spk). 8.

VULTUR GIiYPHUS L.

?SrREPTOPROCNE ZONARIS ALTISSIMA Chapman. 2 dd; 3 ?+.

1948 A. MORRISON : BIRDS OF SOUTH PERU 123

PATAGONA GIGAS PFNVIANA Boucard. 2 dd; 1 9. Giant humming-birds were not uncommon on the arid slopes, favouring the

vicinity of cactus bushes. LESBIA NUNA NUNA (Lessor$ Common in the valley and seen up to a little way above Ahuayro. METALLURA TYRIANTHINA SMARAGDINICOLLIS (d’Orbigny & Lafresnaye). 6 ;

The most abundant hummer in the temperate woods. They are tame little things I noted that they were often to be seen feeding in quite

4 $$; 3 !;;:.

2 bd; 2 49.

2 or;’ ; 3 00.

and the fight is rather feeble. thick cover, generally in thorn bushes.

AGLBACTIS CUPRIPENNIS CAUMATONOTUS Gould. Fairly common in the woodland glades at Pomayaco. RAMPHOMICRON MICRORHYNCHUM ALBivEwrRis Carrikcr. 3 $d; 2 $Q; 1 0.

This glorious little humming-bird was distinctly rare at Pomayaco. Save for onc shot in a similar place some distance away, I only saw them in one gully where there were many elder-like trees, on whose flowers they seemed to feed exclusively. Four of my specimens I obtained on the same tree and a fifth only about twenty yards away. I never saw any other kind of humming-bird on the trees, known locally a b

“ sauco ”. COLAPTES RUPICOLA PUNA Cabanis. &. Only seen at Chumbes, above Ahuayro and at Pomayaco.

HYPOXANTHUS RIVOLII BREVIROSTRIS Tacxanowski. Common in the woods at Pomayaco and, on account of their quict habits, not as

ECCHAUNORNIS CHACURU UNCIROSTRIS Stolemann. I was surprised to find these puff-birds common by the river, particularly on thc

arid slopes which support a sparse growth of thorn bushes. The call, a very loud bubbling series of notes, can be heard for a great distance. The peculiar behaviour of one female that I shot seems worth noting. I walked to within a few k e t of thc bird without seeihg it until it flushed. On following it up again I found it in another thorn bush, crouched low on a branch with its bill pointing straight at me. ’ It always turned to face me, so that all one could see was the direct frontal view of the rather large head, which gave it a most peculiar and unbirdlikc appearance.

In the woods they bchave just like any other woodpecker and seem quits at home in the trees.

6 $b; 3 35..

conspicuous as one might imagine.

2 $$; 6 31.

CROTOPHAGA ANI Linnaus. Common in small parties in the valley and I have seen them feeding in a damp piece

The call is a curious drawling

3 d$; 2 9%.

of grassland where they hopped clumsily about. whistle.

GRALLARIA SQUAMICERA PrQvost & Des Murs. One shot in a shady dell at Pomayaco on 3 October.

GEOSITTA TENUIROSTRIS (Lafresnaye). 3 63. Common on the open grassy slopes above the woods at I’omayaco.

CINCLODES FUSCUS RIWLARIS (Cabanis). On 28 August I saw one by the river at Ninabamba.

ASTHENBS ORBIGNYI USHERI Morrison. 3 6s; 2 QQ. A rather rare bird on the &id valley slopes.

I saw one above Ahuayro at nearly 8000 feet.

J. 1 also saw an Indian boy

with the plucked body of one.

My specunens were all in breeding condition.

124 A. MORRISON : BIRDS OF SOUTH PERU IBIS, 90

[ASTHBNBB OTTONIS (Berlepsch). I have sight records of this bird from Chumbes and Pomayaco, but I think that the

CRANIOLEUCA ALBICAPILLA ALBICAPILLA (Cabanis). 5 dd; 8 99; 4 00.

This beautiful spine-tail was very common in the temperate woods. They are usually.to be seen in pairs. They have a sweet falling song, rather like a loud edition of that of Asthenes o~bignyi, and they often chatter excitedly amongst themselves.

species had best be included in brackets.]

AGRIORNIS MONTANA INSOLENS Sclater & Salvin. 6. A few lived on the open graseland at Pomayaco. M u s c ~ s ~ x r c o ~ RUFIVERTEX OCCIPITALIS Ridgway. 2 dd. Common in the open places at Pomayaco.

CNEMARCHW RUFIPENNIS (Taczanowski). 2 dd; 2 99. Not uncommon on the outskirts of the woods at Pomayaco.

Both specimens collccted werc in full breeding condition.

Though lnrgely H

ground bird, it seems to favour the neighbourhood of cover and often perches on bushes. The specimens collected were in breeding condition in mid-October.

A fairly common bird on the arid valley slopes and in open places among the woods Its chestnut coloration and tree-perching habits make it a conspicuous

MYIOTHERETES STRIATICOLLIS STRIATICOLLIS (SChter). 2 dd.

at Pomayaco. bird, but it is very wild and difficult to approach.

OCHTHCECA LEUCOPHRYS .INTERIOR Zimmer. 2 66 (breeding); 1 2. Found in open bushy places at Pomayaco. OCHTH~CA RUFIPECTORALIS TECTRICIALIS Chapman. 5 $d ; 6 $2 ; 1 0.

This pretty little tyrant, so reminiscent of a robin both in appearance and habits, was common in the temperate woods. They frequent thick cover, where they keep close to the ground. When excited they have a noisy chatter.

KNIPOLEGUS ATERRIMUS ANTHRAcINUS Heine. 5 dd; 9 99. Seen everywhere. They favour open places where there is some bushy undei-

growth. The males, which were in breeding condition, are very conspicuous little buds, usually perching on the top of a bush or tree. It is from here that they take a short fluttering flight to utter their song, a simple " cheerp, cheer ' I . The dull- coloured females, none of which were in breeding condition, frequent thicker cover. I collected a number before I realized what they were. The females are noticeably more olivaceous grey on the upper parts compared with four skins from Bolivia. I hesitate to describe them as a new form in the absence of material from South Peru. It is possible that K. a. ockendeni Hartert may yet prove to be a valid form of this species.

SAYORNIS NIGRICANS LATIROBTRIS (Cabanis & Heine). 2 I?. Very common along the river banks. MECOCERCULUS I.EUCOPHRY~ BRUNN~OMARGINATUS Chapman. Common in the woods at Pomayaco.

parties and often join together to keep up a series of little rippling calls. tree-haunting species and are very tame..

Both examples collected wcre very worn. 8 63; 4 93.

They wander through the trees in little They are a

MYIARCHUS TYRANNULUS CHLOREPISCIUS Berlepsch & Leverkuhn. 2 66; 1 'I. I saw a few, mainly in leafless trees on the arid valley slopes.

MYIARCHUS TUBERCULIFER ATRICEPS Cabanis. 1 6; 2 00.

There were a few in the temperate w*oods, but they did not seem to be very common. They keep to the tops of the trees and are not very conspicuous.

The call I noted as a repeated, shrill " peet, peet ".

1948 A. MORRISON : BIRDS OF SOUTH PERU

EL~NIA ALBICBPS MODESTA Tschudi. d. I collected the only one aeen, at Ninabamba.

SPIZITORNIS FLAVIROBTRIS AREQUIP5 Chapman. 2 0’1.

125

Seen above Ahuayro and also at Chumbes in light scrub. In thq woods at Pomayaco it was replaced by the next species. These birds are small and are not, apparently, referable to n*ecoencis. They resemble specimens from Huancavelica which, however, are larger (2 88, wings 51 *5, 52; 2 w, 51).

Their wing measurements are 40 mm.

I refer them tentatively to arequipa.

SPIZITORNIS PARULUS BQUATORIALIS (Berlepsch & Taczanowski). 8 ; 2 3f . Common in the humid temperate woods at Pomayaco where I never saw flawirostri3.

SERPOPHAGA CINEREA CINEREA (Tschudi). 4 &; 1 0.

I only saw this small tyrant in the vicinity of water by the river banks. They love They are surprisingly noisy, to perch on bushes overhanging pools and runnels.

continually uttering a loud rattle.

TYRANNISCIJS UROPYGIALIS (Lawrence). 3 99. A quiet and rather solitary little bird only found in the woods at Pomayaco, where

HELIOCHERA RUEROCRISTATA (Lafresnaye & d’orbigny). 5 dd; 5 99. Common in the woods at Pomayaco.

it kept to the tops of the trees.

Their tameness and habit of perching on the On 16 October I saw a

The food seems to extreme open tops of trees make them very conspicuous. bird with a beakful of moss which appeared to be nest building. consist entirely of berries. The call is a harsh, loud, almost jay-like chatter.

ANTHUS EOGOTENSIS IMMACULATUS Cory. $?. I saw a few on the open grassy slopes above the woods at Pomayaco. OROCHELIDON MURINA (Cass.). 8 ; 0.

Very abundant over the river. TROGLODYTES MUSCULUS PUNA Berlepsch & Stolzmann. Seen at Chumbes and Pomayaco.

TURDUS CHIQUANCO CHIQUANCO Lafresnaye & d’Orbigny. 6 imm. ; 9. This thrush was rather scarce in the valley, but was much more common at Chumbes

TURDUS FUSCATER GIGANTODES Cabanis. 4 8s; 3 09. Scarce at Ninabamba and Chumbes, but very abundant in the temperate woods. PHEUCTICUS AUREO-VENTRIS TERMINALIS Chapman. 8 63 ; 2 99. Very common in the valley at Ninabamba and Ahuayro, and also seen at Chumbes. SALTATOR AURANTIIROBTRIS ALEOCILIARIS (Philippi & Landbeck). 5 ; 2 ?$2; o Several seen at Chumbes, and very common at Pomayaco. SPOROPHILA NICRICOLLIS INCONSPICUA Berlepsch & Stolzmann. d. An inhabitant of the patches of coarse grassland in the bed of the valley. CATAMENIA ANALIS GRISEIVENTRIS Chapman. d; 3 99. Seen everywhere, but only common at Chumbes.

CATAMENIA INORNATA MINOR Berlepsch. 9. Found in the woods at Pomayaco, but I saw very few.

2 38, Both shot were in breeding condition.

and above Ahuayro.

There is much individual variation in this species, but I think my specimens are best referred to griseiwentris.

The specimen collected had a wing of 69 mm. I now consider that specimens collected by me in Dept. Huancavelica are also referable to minor.

126 A. MORRISON : BIRDS OF HUANUCO, PERU IBIS, 90

SPINUS MAGEI~LANICUS PERUANUS Berlcpsch & Stolzmann. 6. Only a few seen in the valley at Ahuayro and Ninabamba. The specimen collected,

SICALIS OLIVASCENS CHLORIS Tschudi. 6 db; 9; 2 00.

Quite common at Ninabamba in the arid thorn scrub.

at Ahuayro, has a wing of 67 mm.

They were usually in small Also parties, often associating with Song Sparrows (Zonotrichin) and Sporophila.

seen at Ayacucho 22 October among the houses. PHRYGILUS PLEBEJUS PLEBEJUS Tschudi. 0.

Common in the open places at Pomayaco.

ZONOTRICHIA CAPENSIS PERUVIENSIS (Lesson). 3 33; T. Extremely ahundant everywhere.

ATLAPETIS RUFIGENIS FORBESI Morrison. 5 83; 2Q3; 3 00.

These fine sparrows were common in the woods at Pomayaco. They are quiet, inconspicuous birds with furtive habits. They keep largely to the undergrowth, particularly bramble bushes, and are very silent. I never noticed them calling or making any noise.

CONIROSTRUM CINEREIIM CINEREUM 1,afresnaye & d’Orhigny. Only once seen on the valley floor, but very commnn nhnve Ahuayrn and in the

DIGLOSSIA CARHONARIA BRUNNEIVBNTRIS Lnfresnaye. Fairly cnmmon in the temperate woods.

THRAUPIS BONARIENSIS DARWINII (Bp.). 4 33; 2 14. Ahundant everywhere.

THLYPOPSIS RUFICEPS (Lafresnayc & d’orhigny). d; 3 $?? ; 2 00.

I found these little birds rather scarce in the woods at Pomayaco. They arc quiet. inconspicuous little things with warbler-like habits, keeping mainly out of sight in thc undergrowth.

5 3$; 2 ?C.

woods at Pnmayaco.

3 33; 2 77.

This appears to be a northward extension of the known range.

A LIST OF ‘rm BIRDS OBSERVED AT THE HACIENDA HUARAPA, DEPARTMENT OF HUANUCO, PERU.

Ily ALASTAIR MORRISON.

lieceived on 15 May 1947.

lluarapa is the name of a large hacienda some sixteen miles north-east 01 ’ Huanuco, and was formerly the property of Mr. R. T. Colley of the Cerro de

Pasco Copper Corporation, who was developing it as a cattle farm. Mr. Colley very kindly allowed me to do some collecting there in December 1939, and although my stay was limited to twelve days, I feel that a brief list of the birds observed may be of interest.

Nomenclature is based on Hellmayr’s ‘ Birds of the Americas ’ and Peters’ ‘ Check list of the birds of the world ’.

The hacienda lies in the hills to the west of the Huallaga River and on a tributary of that stream, at an altitude of 9000 feet. The track leading there follows the tributary up through an arid valley for about ten miles.