Subject: Record Committee Decision 2025 [Print This Page] Author: HKBWS Tung Time: 9/03/2025 18:17 Subject: Record Committee Decision 2025
At a meeting on 21 January 2025, the Record Committee made the following decisions:
Addition to Cat I
• Black Eagle Ictinaetus malaiensis – recorded at Po Toi on 31 October 2023
With increasing records in neighbouring region (i.e. Pearl River Delta), good plumage condition, suitable location and date of this record, this species is added into Cat I of the Hong Kong bird list.
Addition to Cat III
• Little Pied Flycatcher Ficedula westermanni – recorded at Po Toi on 7 December 2023
Given this species’ natural distribution, being sedentary and date of this record, this bird is more likely not of natural origin.
• Crimson Sunbird Aethopyga siparaja – recorded at Tuen Mun on 24 December 2023 and Po Toi on 4-6 January 2024
Evidence of feather damage and sub-urban location of the first record suggests it may have originated from captivity. The second record refers to an individual which could not be assigned to subspecies identification due to lack of good quality photos. In addition, different species of sunbird were found in the local bird market in that period. All these are favour to place this species in Category III based on these available information.
New subspecies record
• Ornate Sunbird Cinnyris ornatus subspecies flammaxillaris – recorded at Lion Nature Education Centre, Sai Kung on 18 November 2024
This is a similar case to the Little Pied Flycatcher. Given this species’ natural distribution, being sedentary and date of this record, this bird is more likely not of natural origin.
The HK list now stands at 585 species in Cat I and II. An updated HK List will also be published.
Species under review
Mountain Hawk Eagle Nisaetus nipalensis at Long Valley, 5 October 1995
- Second review concluded as Not Proven. This species remains in Category I of the Hong Kong List from the only accepted (and the first) record at Luk Keng, 7 May 1988.
URF assessment update
- In progress. Birdwatchers are still encouraged to submit URF to HKBWS Record Committee.
Hong Kong Bird Report
- HKBR 2021 is now under preparation and HKBR 2022 is under planning.
HKBWS & eBird Partnership
• Official collaboration started; open data from eBird can now be used by HKBWS.
• eBird is actively promoted to encourage bird record submissions.
IOC Update (Version 15.1 draft)
• No changes affecting the Hong Kong List.
IUCN Red List Update
• No changes for Hong Kong species.
Satellite-Tracking Data in Bird Records
• Discussion on whether tracking data alone should count as a formal records in Hong Kong including the “first record”.
• Key concerns are lack of direct visual confirmation and potential behavioral changes (human-induced) in tracked birds.
• No final decision yet; further discussions and references to other record committees are planned.
At a meeting on 12 May 2025, the Record Committee made the following decisions:
Addition to Cat I and II
- Chinese Bamboo Partridge Bambusicola thoracicus at San Kwai Tin, Northeast New Territories, 31 October 2022 to 3 June 2023. At this location, a single or pairs, including a recently fledged juvenile, were recorded. Furthermore, reviews of records from recent years suggest that this species may have a sustainable population in the NE New Territories. The Chinese Bamboo Partridge is a resident of South China, including the nearby Shenzhen (where the population could also be feral), which is included in the definition of Cat IIA of the Hong Kong List. Consequently, this species has been reclassified into Cat IIA.
- Hooded Crane Grus monacha was found at Tai Lam Chung Reservoir on 13 and 15 March 2024. The body and plumage of the crane were in excellent condition. Given the location of this observation, the potential vagrancy of the species (with records in Taiwan and the Philippines), and the date of the observation, it is likely that this individual was a wild crane visiting Hong Kong under natural conditions.
- Javan Pond Heron Ardeola speciosa was found at Shui Hau, Lantau, 1 June 2024. This individual displaying its breeding plumage provided a straightforward identification for this species. This record was accompanied by an approach of a tropical cyclone, which brought strong winds and heavy rainfall. The location of this record also supports a wild origin for this bird.
Addition to Cat III
- Black-chinned Fruit Dove Ptilinopus leclancheri at Lai Chi Kok Park, Kowloon, 25 August 2024. This individual was discovered in an urban park, where wild migrants and escaped birds have been recorded. While the body and plumage conditions were generally satisfactory, this species was previously unknown for its migratory and movement patterns and has not been recorded in mainland China. Consequently, a cautious approach was adopted to assess its status in Hong Kong, and it has now been added to Cat III of the Hong Kong List. With the discovery of further records of this species in Hong Kong and the neighbouring areas, its status may be subject to review.
- Slay-blue Flycatcher Ficedula tricolour at Ngong Ping, Lantau, 24 October 2022. A female or immature of this species was photographed, and this record was deposited in an online biodiversity database. Examination of the photographs revealed the loss of tail feathers and disheveled primaries of the bird, indicating its pre-captive origin. It is added to Cat III of the Hong Kong List.
Other notable records of potential changes to the Hong Kong List
- Jerdon’s Baza Aviceda jerdoni at Lui Kung Tin (Shek Kong Catchment), 28 February and 5 March 2024. One individual, presumably the same bird, was photographed during these dates. A thorough examination of its body and feather conditions revealed the loss of tail feathers and apparent foot disease. These findings strongly suggest a pre-captive origin for this bird. Consequently, this species remains classified in Cat III of the Hong Kong List.
- Brown-streaked Flycatcher Muscicapa williamsoni at Ho Man Tin, 2 April 2024. A flycatcher with brownish plumage resembling an Asian Brown Flycatcher was photographed and initially identified for this species. However, after searching literature and online photographs of this species, the submitted images did not provide conclusive evidence for identification. The Record Committee has decided to submit this record to an overseas expert for further investigation. One possibility is that the bird is in a different subspecies of the Asian Brown Flycatcher, specifically the siamensis subspecies, which is relatively little known and has a restricted distribution range in Southeast Asia. Therefore, this record is still under review.
The HK list now stands at 588 species in Cat I and II. An updated HK List will be published in a latter day.
Other review of records
Species names update for three species in Cat III of the Hong Kong List:
• Javan Sparrow Padda oryzivora
• Blue-winged Leafbird Chloropsis moluccensis
• Vinous-breasted Myna Acridotheres leucocephalus
Reviews of Green-backed, Narcissus and Ryukyu Flycatchers in Hong Kong
A total of 32 records (URF) of these flycatcher species from 1996 to 2022 were reviewed in the light of a published paper of identification of the female/immature of these species (Bakewell et al. 2021) and other online photos. Below is the summary of the results:
- Green-backed Flycatcher has a total of 6 records In Hong Kong up to 2020. The first two records were in spring (11 April 1996 and 29 March 1997), and the other four records from 2011 to 2019 came in the autumn (extreme dates: 4 Oct to 10 Nov).
- Ryukyu Flycatcher has a total of 12 records (in 9 individuals) up to 2022. All records fell in the spring within extreme dates of 26 March to 13 April, and no autumn record so far.
- Narcissus Flycatcher is a regular migrant in spring with fewer records in autumn. This review brought up six late autumn and early winter records. All were in female/immature plumage within the period of 23 October to 8 December.
URF assessment update
- Birdwatchers are encouraged to submit URF (Unusual Record Form) for rare species and excel spreadsheet for other commoner species in annual basis.
- More birdwatchers are using eBird now. HKBWS is now an official eBird partner and help review eBird records.
Hong Kong Bird Report
- HKBR 2021 has collected major papers and systematic checklist. Other parts including editorial preface, advertisement, photos, etc., are now under preparation.
- HKBR 2022 has progress on several papers, systematic list which needs to handle large amount of data, would need helps from AI tools.
IOC update (Version 15.1 Draft)
- No changes affecting the Hong Kong List.
IUCN Red List update
- Several species including Black-faced Spoonbill, Manchurian Reed Warbler, Styan’s Grasshopper Warbler and other are now under review. Their status could be changed in the second half of 2025.
URF requirement
Species are now required for URF submission – Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Bonell’s Eagle and Upland Pipit.
Date of next meeting
Record assessment will still be conducted but no meeting is scheduled in the summer months. The next meeting is scheduled in early October 2025.
