Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, 38(3) 1995

Issue:

VOL 38(3) 1995

Keywords:

Białowieża Primaeval Forest, native and alien birds, species richness

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The birds of the Białowieża Forest additional data and summary

• Ludwik TOMIAŁOJĆ

Abstract:

The paper presents correction of some estimates by Borowski & Okołów (1988) or by earlier authors and adds new faunistical data on the bird occurrence in the Białowieża Forest in 1973-1995. Data on over 140 species are discussed. The results include, the first firm breeding records of the species: Accipiter nisus, Chlidonias leucopterus, Glaucidium passerinum, Saxicola torquata, Regulus ignicapillus, Phylloscopus trochiloides, Lanius excubitor, Loxia curvirostra, Carduelis spinus, possible breeding of Fringilla montifringilla, as well as the first observations of rare visitors. The overall number of species of the Białowieża Forest (Belarusian part included) together with its marshes and edges exceeds 250 species. Among them 177 (perhaps 180) that have ever bred and of which 133-134 species seem native to the area. About 21 species are represented by less than 20 pairs in the whole complex, while 5 have already been regionally extirpated. High species richness has been found in diurnal raptors (15breeding species, plus 2 extirpated), owls (8 plus 1 extirpated), woodpeckers (eight of nine European species) and Sylvinae warblers (18 species). The considerable species diversity of Białowieża birds appears to be one of the pristine features typical of the avifauna of a primaeval lowland temperate forest.