Forest bird communities in Western Samoa

The birds of Upolu and Savai’i, Western Samoa, were surveyed in August 1984. Birds were counted along a 2 km transect in 0 le Pupu-Pu’e National Park and 5-minute bird index counts were used in upland and lowland Savai’i. There was a significant difference in the composition and density of bird communities between partly logged and unmodified tava (Pomeria pinnata) forest. The composition of bird communities differed at varying altitudes both in the national park and in Savai’i. There were more species at higher altitudes on Savai’i, and rare species were recorded at only the higher altitudes on Upolu and Savai’i. The relative abundance and occurrence of threatened bird species were noted, and possible sightings of Puna’e, the Samoan Woodrail, in upland Savai’i were recorded.