Rhipidura malaitae Mayr, 1931

Callaghan, Corey T., Kekeubata, Esau, Waneagea, Jackson, Alabai, Maasafi, Esau, Tommy, MacLaren, David & Major, Richard E., 2019, A collaborative bird survey of East Kwaio, Malaita, Solomon Islands, Check List 15 (6), pp. 1119-1136 : 1131-1132

Rhipidura malaitae Mayr, 1931 . Malaita Fantail

This unique montane endemic was described by Mayr from a series of specimens collected by members of the Whitney South Sea Expedition ( Mayr 1931b), known to be restricted to higher elevations, generally> 1000 m. As far as we are aware, the Malaita Fantail has been observed only three times by westerners since the 37 specimens collected in 1930—once in 1994, once in 1997 (Birdlife International 2018), and once in 2016 (T. Lavery pers. comm.). However, the species is well known to members of the local community. We observed one individual at ~ 950 m elevation a couple of km from the Kwainaa’isi Cultural Centre in mossy montane primary forested habitat. Observed actively foraging in dense understory and flitting about in typical fantail manner. One individual was also captured at approximately 08°58.80 ′ S, 161°00.18′E,> 1000 m elevation and retained as a specimen. Based on our record and observation and those historical ones, we suggest that this species is uncommon above 950 m elevation in at least three geographic locations. Identification: A nondescript bird,

but with a noticeably large black eye. Fig. 4E. Voucher registration number(s): O.78231 (skin).