NUGROHO ET AL.
Bio Palembanica 2.
: 128-133 .
This journal is available online at: https://ejournal.
Recent Records of Racket-tailed Treepie Crypsirina temia (Passeriformes: Corvida.
in Kalimantan.
Indonesia TEGUH WILLY NUGROHO1*.
ALEXANDER KURNIAWAN SARIYANTO PUTERA2,
MUHAMMAD IQBAL3.
HAPPY FERDIANSYAH4.
ARI NOVIYONO5.
ABDUL HAKIM
SYAH6 & FIKRI EL ZAFRAN7
Sebangau National Park.
Jl.
Mahir Mahar KM 1,2 Palangkaraya.
Central Kalimantan 73111.
Indonesia *Corresponding Author.
E-mail: teguhwillynugroho@gmail.
https://orcid.
org/0009-0009-5020-1904 Universitas Sulawesi Barat.
Research Center for Ecology.
Concervation and Ethnobiology.
Majene.
Sulawesi Barat 91412.
Indonesia Email: alexander_ksp@unsulbar.
https://orcid.
org/0000-0002-1823-0504 Restorasi Ekosistem Riau.
Jl.
Lintas Timur Pangkalan Kerinci.
Riau 28381.
Indonesia Email: iqbalnyamala@gmail.
https://orcid.
org/0009-0008-4283-5803 Planet Indonesia Society.
Jl.
Perdana No.
89D Pontianak.
West Kalimantan 78124.
Indonesia Email: happy@planetindonesia.
https://orcid.
org/0009-0004-7601-1029 Birdwatcher Indonesia.
Jl.
Semarang No.
34 Pondok Bambu.
Duren Sawit.
East Jakarta.
Indonesia Email: thearnov@gmail.
https://orcid.
org/0009-0002-4174-5730 Forest Area Designation Bureu XII Tanjung Pinang.
The Ministry of Forestry.
Tanjung Pinang.
Riau Islands 29112.
Indonesia Email: hakimidun@gmail.
https://orcid.
org/0009-0002-4729-6833 Birdwatcher Indonesia.
Jl.
H Baping No.
2 Ciracas.
East Jakarta 13740.
Indonesia Email: mewtwofarmz@gmail.
https://orcid.
org/0009-0002-5155-5316 Received 28 October 2025iCAccepted by M.
Iqbal: 23 November 2025iCPublished online 27 December 2025.
Abstract The existence of the Racket-tailed Treepie Crypsirina temia on the island of Kalimantan.
Indonesia, remains unconfirmed, despite several records and two specimens collected in South Kalimantan since the 20th century.
During our birdwatching activities in several areas since 2017, we have encountered this bird and documented our sightings on the Burungnesia platform.
We also recorded the habitat conditions where the bird was found to assess its habitat suitability in Kalimantan.
Between 2017 and the present, we recorded 10 encounters with this bird from four provinces in Kalimantan.
Indonesia.
Notably, one record is from research conducted on Laut Island.
South Kalimantan.
The habitat records from the locations where this bird was found provide valuable information on suitable habitats and can serve as a reference for further research on this species in Kalimantan.
Keywords: Crypsirina temia, distribution, habitat.
Kalimantan.
Racket-tailed Treepie.
Introduction The Racket-tailed Treepie Crypsirina temia is a medium size bird with a very long tail that ends in a rounded shape (MacKinnon & Phillipps 1.
This species can be found in southern Myanmar to northern Malaya.
Indo-china.
Java and Bali extirpated in extreme northwest peninsular Malaysia (Taufiqurrahman et al.
An old specimen from Sumatra and two from Borneo are today regarded as erroneous because of uncommon in most of its distribution range (Birdforum 2.
The existence of C.
temia in Kalimantan still needs further investigation and observation.
Some existing records and evidence are still too weak to state that this bird is in Kalimantan.
Daudin .
mentioned that the species had been sent to Temminck from Batavia.
Java.
The specimen described and figured by Levaillant .
, to which the descriptions of Corvus temia and Corvus varians refer, was part of the Temminck collection and is no longer present at the Leiden Museum (Dekker 2.
Mees .
indicated that two specimens of C.
temia in the Leiden Museum were probably collected in the south-eastern corner of Kalimantan after Mess .
recorded this species in that area a few years Holmes .
emphasized that a careful search in the southeastern region for C.
temia is necessary given the presence of other Javanese elements.
More readily explained are the large number Recent Records of Racket-tailed Treepie of species of presumed Javanese origin that must have become isolated in the region after the final Pleistocene lowering of sea level over the Sundanese continental shelf.
Further evidence for this species is now required.
Thus, our records on the existence of C.
temia in Kalimantan, along with the analysis of suitable habitats, can help fill the knowledge gap and clarify the status of this bird in the region.
Methods We have compiled sighting records of C.
temia encounters in Kalimantan from 2017 to 2024 (Fig.
We have encountered this bird and documented some of our sightings on the Burungnesia platform as part of our digital records in the field.
These records are based on observations at several locations in Kalimantan.
Indonesia.
We discuss the status and distribution of this bird in Kalimantan, following Mees' .
observations around southern Kalimantan.
In addition, we also conducted observations and discussions regarding habitats, such as perching trees, dominant vegetation types, and the types of habitats used by the birds, as described by Yanti .
Figure 1.
Map of Kalimantan (Indonesian Borne.
and location records of Crypsirina temia.
The colors on the markers are based on the differences in location .
ed: West Kalimantan, blue: Central Kalimantan, green: South Kalimantan, yellow: East Kalimantan, and purple: a note from South Kalimanta.
Results and Discussion There are 10 observations and one note regarding the presence of C.
temia in Kalimantan, including a single observation from West Kalimantan, five observations from Central Kalimantan, two observations and one record from South Kalimantan, and two observations from East Kalimantan (Table .
NUGROHO ET AL.
Table 1.
Documented observations of Crypsirina temia in Kalimantan, 2017-2024.
Compilation of Crypsirina temia record on Kalimantan from 2017 to 2024.
Note for observers: Teguh Willy Nugroho (TWN).
Alexander Kurniawan Sariyanto Putera (AKSP).
Muhammad Iqbal (MI).
Happy Ferdiansyah (HF).
Ari Noviyono (AN).
Abdul Hakim Syah (AHS).
Fikri El Zafran (FEZ).
Hasyim (AH) & M.
Rizkani (MR).
Date Location Habitat Observers 30 Mar 2017 Gersik.
Balikpapan.
East Kalimantan Mangrove AKSP 11 Feb 2019 20 Des 2020 21 Aug 2022 13 Mar 2023 3 Sep 2023 26 Okt 2023 25 Apr 2024 14 Mei 2024 Tcilik Riwut .
Central Kalimantan Sepinggan.
East Kalimantan Gunung Nyiut.
West Kalimantan Bukit Tunggal.
Central Kalimantan Danau Seran.
South Kalimantan Bukit Tunggal.
Central Kalimantan Sigam.
South Kalimantan Palangkaraya.
Central Kalimantan Swamp
Vegetable garden
Secondary forest
Secondary forest
Small lake
Secondary forest
Mangrove forest
Secondary forest
TWN
TWN
TWN
AH & MR
AHS
26 Jun 2024 Palangkaraya.
Central Kalimantan Secondary forest
FEZ
The presence of C.
temia in Kalimantan is uncertain, but historical records suggest that two specimens were collected between 1850 and 1952 by J.
H Croockewit, likely from either East or South Kalimantan (Mann 2008.
Taufiqurrahman et al.
The most recent record prior to our study was Mees' .
observation in a corner of South Kalimantan, sometime before 1966.
A potential sighting was also reported during a survey of avifauna species dynamics in the area of PT Arutmin.
North Pulau Laut Coal Terminal (Soendjoto et al.
, which could be the first recorded encounter of this species in Kalimantan after Mees' observation in 1966.
Historical records of C.
temia prior to 2017 are summarized in Table 2 Table 2.
Historical records of Crypsirina temia in Kalimantan.
Indonesia, pre-2017.
Note: NA (Not Availabl.
Date Location South Kalimantan Habitat Sources Taufiqurrahman et al.
Before 1966 South Kalimantan Mees .
Pulau Laut Utara.
South Kalimantan Mangrove and secondary forest Soendjoto.
Riefani.
Mahrudin, & Zen.
Muhammad.
Most of our records come from around Palangkaraya, with a total of 10 individuals observed at four different locations.
On August 21, 2022, in the afternoon, while observing in the secondary forest around the Gunung Nyiut Nature Reserve.
Raut Muara Village.
Sekayam.
Sanggau.
West Kalimantan, we observed two greenish-black birds with rounded tail tips flying among the trees, which we believe to be C.
The birds seemed alert, emitting alarm sounds along with Sooty-headed Bulbuls Pycnonotus aurigaster in response to an Asian Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhyncus.
Crypsirina temia is a relatively active bird, but it can be quite striking.
It's often overlooked because its call resembles that of the Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach, or it may be mistaken for the Square-tailed Drongo-cuckoo Surniculus lugubris, which shares similar habitats and body shape.
This similarity likely contributes to it being overlooked.
The growing interest in outdoor activities like birdwatching and wildlife photography, facilitated by advancing technology, has led to more C.
records in Kalimantan, providing valuable contributions and important records (Iqbal & Albayquni 2016.
Taufiqurrahman et al.
Abdillah 2.
, and has significantly increased knowledge of ornithology in Indonesia.
There are also documented young birds (Fig.
, which proves that C.
temia is breeding successfully in Kalimantan.
We observed birds foraging for food in Api-api trees Avicennia mariana and Coconut trees Cocos nucifera.
Two of the birds were juveniles still being cared for by their parents.
We observed several instances of parent birds feeding their young with insects .
species of grasshoppe.
Recent Records of Racket-tailed Treepie Figure 2.
Juvenile Crypsirina temia.
Sigam.
Pulau Laut Utara.
Kotabaru.
South Kalimantan, perching on Api-api tree Avicennia mariana, on 25 April 2024 (Photograph: Muhammad Rizkan.
Figure 3.
Habitat conditions in Palangka Raya University.
Palangkaraya.
Central Kalimantan, are dominated by Acacia Acacia mangium and have a dense fern understory (Photograph: Teguh Willy Nugroh.
One individual of C.
temia was observed in the Lake Seran Ecotourism Area.
Guntung Manggis.
Landasan Ulin.
Banjarbaru, during a birdwatching activity, where it was foraging in a Laban tree Vitex Additionally, five birds .
wo of which were immatur.
were observed during birdwatching and wildlife photography around Ujung Stadium.
Palangka Raya University, perching on Acacia trees Acacia mangium and Lamtoro trees Leucaena leucocephala.
Crypsirina temia in Kalimantan has a limited distribution, but it is relatively common in suitable NUGROHO ET AL.
Based on observations, it predominantly inhabits secondary forests with dense vegetation, such as the area around Ujung Stadium in Palangkaraya, which is dominated by A.
mangium (Fig.
They are often found near residential areas or public facilities with sparse vegetation.
According to MacKinnon .
temia uses secondary forests and farming areas up to 1500 m.
Further observations from 20172024 show that C.
temia in Kalimantan has a diverse habitat distribution, including open areas like fields, bushes, mangrove forest edges, disturbed forests .
, ex-burning area.
, and secondary forests near community settlements.
This species is quite tolerant of secondary habitats and areas close to human settlements (Madge, 2.
, often found near villages, garden edges, and mixed secondary forests, as observed in Lake Seran.
Banjarbaru.
South Kalimantan, which is dominated by a mixture of Laban Vitex pinnata and Gelam Melaleuca leucadendron, and mangrove edges, as observed in Sigam.
Pulau Laut.
South Kalimantan.
Our study sheds new light on the distribution and habitat preferences of the Racket-tailed Treepie in Kalimantan.
Indonesia.
The species' presence in diverse habitats, such as secondary forests, mangroves, and human-modified areas, indicates its ability to adapt to various environments.
The observation of breeding pairs and juveniles confirms that the species is established in Kalimantan.
These findings underscore the need for ongoing research and conservation initiatives to safeguard the species' habitats and populations.
By contributing to the understanding of the Racket-tailed Treepie's ecology and conservation status, our study aims to inform future conservation efforts in the region.
Acknowledgments We thank Ahyadi Hasyim.
Muhammad Rizkani.
Yaumud Raiyardhi.
Imam Taufiqurrahman.
Arif Suyanto.
Ramanda A.
Santana.
Deni Setiawan.
Akbar D.
Wicaksono, and Elok M.
Safitri for their contributions to data collection and discussions.
Special thanks to the Birdpacker team (Swiss Winasis and Panji G.
Akba.
for the Burungnesia platform and Romy Satria for habitat information.
References