Birdwatching Areas: Gunung Ambang Nature Reserve, North Sulawesi: 2The second speciality of Ambang is the little-known Matinan Flycatcher, a species endemic to montane forest in north Sulawesi. The species is elusive but occurs in both logged and primary forest, and in November 1999 a nest site was found on the edge of the main footpath close to the forest/scrub boundary. Flycatchers were noted in mixed-species flocks, generally in the forest mid-storey, and are confusingly similar to both the common Sulphur-bellied Whistler Pachycephala sulfuriventer and Sulawesi Babbler Trichastoma celebense. A useful distinction is the flycatchers' habit of perching motionless for periods before snatching for food items.
Citrine Canary Flycatcher also joins mixed flocks associating with Streaky-headed White-eye Lophozosterops squamiceps, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker Dicaeum nehrkorni, Cerulean Cuckooshrike Coracina temminckii, and Sulawesi Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus sarasinorum. All these species are endemic and the passage of a flock can surround one with birds for up to an hour and leave one confused with identification problems for the next. Two elusive species occasionally seen on the edges of flocks are Scarlet Myzomela Myzomela dibapha - represented by a distinctive endemic race - and Dark-eared Myza Myza celebensis. The latter is the commoner species at Ambang and moves quickly from one inflorescence to the next in frantic pursuit of nectar. The genus Myza is endemic to Sulawesi, but this is not the only peculiarity to be seen at Ambang. Three other species in the reserve also belong to ancient lineages that have evolved in the unique environment of Sulawesi's forests producing endemic genera. Foremost amongst these - and difficult to overlook given its extraordinary trumpeted calls - is Malia Malia grata, represented by an endemic subspecies very different to birds in central Sulawesi. Groups of Malia announce their presence long before becoming visible and their manic calls and energetic actions attract many other species, including Sulawesi Drongo Dicrurus montanus, Yellow-billed Malkoha Phaenicophaeus calyorhynchus, and Rusty-bellied Fantail Rhipidura teysmanni. The other two species belonging to endemic genera are more restrained and consequently easy to miss; Purple-bearded Bee-eater Meropogon forsteni is a quiet inhabitant of open areas and the forest edge, whilst Olive-flanked Whistler Hylocitrea bonensis is a very rare species at higher altitudes in the reserve.
One can come across forest floor and understorey specialists throughout the reserve. The most repetitive song must surely belong to Mountain Tailorbird Orthotomus cuculatus which is a low-level skulker, whilst the peculiar Chestnut-backed Bush Warbler Bradypterus castaneus behaves more like a mouse than a bird, running around on the forest floor with its tail cocked - Rawa Paya is a good area to see these species. Another target species for many birders is Scaly Kingfisher Actenoides princeps, endemic to montane forest throughout Sulawesi and particularly easy to see at Ambang in the less disturbed areas of forest. Montane areas of Sulawesi support a less diverse frugivorous community in comparison to the lowlands, and Ambang is no exception. Hornbills are very rare, and pigeons are represented by Red-eared fruit Dove Ptilinopus fischeri, a high altitude specialist, White-bellied Imperial Pigeon Ducula forsteni, and Brown Cuckoo Dove Macropygia amboinensis. Parrots are common, with the noisy, ringing calls of Golden-mantled Racquet-tail Prioniturus platurus heard in all areas; the two endemic lorikeets, Ornate Trichoglossus ornatus and Yellow-and-green T. flavoviridis, are also common, but most easily seen in fast-moving flocks along the forest edge. The forest edge and adjacent agricultural land is the best area to search for raptors and the walk back to Singsingon usually produces two or three species. WCS recorded Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis, Barred Honey-buzzard Pernis celebensis, and the migrant Grey-faced Buzzard Butastur indicus among eight species of raptor at Ambang. Mammals Notes References
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