Birds of Guam

Abstract

IN view of the fact that very little information is available on the birds of the islands of the Pacific, the author presents a list of birds observed on Guam, Marianas Islands, between September 19 and December 12, 1945. As my time and opportunities for observing birds was limited and as large sections of the wilder parts of the island were closed to military personnel, I was forced to carry on observations for the most part in the more settled region of the south-central areas. Field work was conducted on the west side of the island in the foothills and -mountains in the vicinity of Mt. Tenjo, along the Masso River (a small stream), the Orote Peninsula, Apra Harbor, and the beaches northeast of the last locality mentioned. Two trips were made to the forests near Point Ritidan (the extreme northern tip of the island), and two trips along the southeast coast as far south as Talofofo Bay. One trip was taken along the west coast south of the Orote Peninsula. Guam lies north of the equator in latitude 130 30' N., longitude 1450 E. It is the largest of the islands in the Marianas group and is approximately thirty miles long and from four to eight miles wide. The southern part is mountainous (the highest elevation, according to an old map, is 1,334 feet on Mt. Lamlam), while the northern part is an elevated plateau, approximately four hundred feet in height. High cliffs, covered with vegetation for the most part, flank the plateau along the coasts. In the central part of the island and along most of the coast are extensive coconut plantations. Marshes and swamps are few; two partially drained areas were found. The high temperature and the rich volcanic soils produce a luxuriant tropical vegetation. The northern plateau is largely covered by heavy forest including such characteristic plants as pandan or screw-pine (Pandanus), cycads (Cycas), wild figs (Ficus), and a bewildering array of other trees, shrubs, and vines. Extensive grasslands clothe large portions of the southern mountains, especially in the Mt. Tenjo area. There are several streams in this section whose headwaters start as springs in the mountains and form cascades over the cliffs. The mountain stream valleys are, for the most part, without forest except isolated scrub vegetation such as screw-pine, hau (Hibiscus tiliaceus), low palms, and an occasional clump of coconut palms (Cocos nucifera). A tall cane grass forms thick growths along the streams and springs in the mountains. Australian-pine (Casuar-