de Lima, R.F. & Melo, M. (2021) A revised bird checklist for the oceanic islands of the Gulf of Guinea (Príncipe, São Tomé and Annobón). Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, 141(2), 179-198. DOI: 10.25226/bboc.v141i2.2021.a9.
We present an updated bird checklist for the oceanic islands of the Gulf of Guinea. Their avifauna comprises 146 confirmed species, an increase of 19% in 15 years. Of these, 66 are resident landbird species (32 on Príncipe, 50 on São Tomé and 11 on Annobón), including 29 endemic species, 17 endemic subspecies and 17 possibly non-native species. The remaining avifauna consists of six breeding seabird species, four non-breeding migrants, 62 vagrants and eight species of uncertain status. An additional 51 species have been reported but lack confirmation. Most recent changes reflect increases in observer activity and involve vagrant and unconfirmed species, but a few result from previously overlooked historical records and taxonomic changes. Of the three islands, most changes affected the avifauna of Príncipe, whereas little new information has come from Annobón. Future changes are predicted to arise from new reports and confirmation of vagrants, but also from further taxonomic revision of residents.
Ricardo Faustino de Lima Bats and Birds in Natural and Semi-Natural Ecosystems
