Birds of Singapore
by the Bird Society of Singapore
The latest update of our checklist, version 2023-2, has been published. It can be accessed at our Downloads page.
The latest update of our checklist, version 2023-2, has been published. It can be accessed at our Downloads page. Since our last checklist update in February 2023, the Records Committee has considered and voted on over 50 records of rare and scarce birds in Singapore. We would like to thank all the observers who submitted their records, and these votes are published on our Recent Decisions page with our Live Checklist tracking additions and deletions to the checklist on a live basis. This article includes the updates to our checklist since our last revision. Our checklist is based on the International Ornithological Committee (IOC) taxonomy, the latest version being IOC 13.1 – the same version as the previous checklist update, so there are no taxonomic changes in this revision. This revision instead focuses on changes to the local statuses for several species in the checklist, as well as updates to our Review List, which includes species which our Records Committee compiles records for. This edition of the checklist is version 2023-2, and can be downloaded at our Downloads page. Note that this downloadable checklist is a “snapshot” of the checklist as of June 2023, and may differ from our live checklists available on this site and our Records Committee site. For example, you may have noticed the below additions to the checklist already appearing on our live checklists by late last year – when they were finalised by our Records Committee – even though they are only reflected in our downloadable checklist in this official update. There are now 427 species in the Singapore Bird Checklist with the changes in this revision. Added to checklist White-crowned Hornbill Berenicornis comatus [Record 10513]: One bird at Chek Jawa first recorded in Apr 2023 placed this species in Category A. Our recent article discusses our rationale for the inclusion as a wild bird. Also considered for inclusion but not added to checklist Stripe-throated Bulbul Pycnonotus finlaysoni [Record 10491, Record 10527]: A recent sighting at Chek Jawa and a separate record last year at Upper Seletar Reservoir Park were both considered possible escapees. Details are summarized in our article. Removed from checklist Wandering Whistling Duck Dendrocygna arcuata: The last sightings of this species in Singapore were over five years ago, so it certainly no longer has a self-sustaining breeding population in Singapore. Applying our new categorization system for introduced species in Singapore, described below, this species is removed. Streaked Weaver Ploceus manyar: Like the previous species, has not been recorded in over five years. Applying our new categorization system for introduced species in Singapore, described below, this species is removed. Updates to categorization for introduced species Previously, introduced species with self-sustaining populations (i.e. Javan Myna and House Crow) were removed from the checklist after 10 years of absence; for example, Crested Myna and Black-winged Starling were removed in this way. Going forward, we will remove introduced species once it is reasonably clear that they no longer have self-sustaining local breeding populations, essentially removing the 10-year cutoff. This has led to the removals of Streaked Weaver and Wandering Whistling Duck, and Chinese Hwamei is another one to watch. Category Old definition New definition C (self-sustaining population) Species that have been introduced by man and have established to form self-sustaining, breeding populations. Species that are most likely to have originated from captivity, with self-sustaining breeding populations. B2 (formerly had self-sustaining population) Species previously placed in Category C but last recorded more than 10 years ago. Species that are most likely to have originated from captivity, formerly placed in Category C, but no longer have self-sustaining breeding populations. E1 (no self-sustaining population) Species that are most likely to have originated from captivity, with breeding populations, if any, thought to not be self-sustaining. A full set of information on our checklist’s Categories can be found in our About Us page. Review List changes Brown-backed Needletail: added to Review List. The first confirmed record of Hirundapus giganteus indicus – the migratory race – in Singapore, coupled with the increasingly prominent scarcity of this species (especially when compared to the large number of Silver-backed and White-throated Needletails since 2016) prompted the uplisting of this species. Common Moorhen: removed from Review List. Breeding efforts in multiple places in Singapore prompted the downlisting of this species. Javan Pond Heron: removed. Increased observer effort in the birding community has revealed that this species is not as rare as previously thought. Consistent records of multiple birds at various locations over the past few seasons prompted the downlisting of this species. Rufous-bellied Eagle: removed. Multiple records...