Pandion haliaetus

Range P. h. cristatus Biak, Supiori, Owi, Numfor, Yapen. Status Resident or Palearctic migrant? First noted by Ripley on Supiori in May 1937 (Mayr & Meyer de Schauensee 1939) and collected by Hoogerheide on 8 December 1953 (Junge 1956). Thereafter recorded by most visitors in May ‒ December. January 1997: singles at Marauw and Sansundi (SvB). During August 2018 and 2019 up to 3 ‒ 6 at the tsunami swamp. 13 January 1994: two on Owi (P. Gregory in litt. 2000). Without more information it is impossible to speculate on the origins of these birds. However, P. h. haliaetus has been recorded as a winter migrant on Sulawesi (Coates & Bishop 1997). Breeding 7 July 1982: KDB observed a pair perched atop a tall dead tree above Kuneff, on the south coast of Supiori whose behaviour suggested they may have been looking to nest.