Providence Petrel
Pterodroma solandri
Heavyset, gray-brownish seabird of the open Pacific Ocean, with pale patches in the underwings at the primary feathers and indistinct pale feathering around the bill base. Upperparts sometimes show grayish, almost silvery grizzled appearance. High-arcing flight in high winds, as in other gadfly petrel species. Similar to dark-morph Kermadec Petrel, which shows white shafts in primary feathers in the upperwings, lacking in Providence.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Pterodroma solandri
- Authority
- (Gould, 1844)
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Family
- Procellariidae
- Genus
- Pterodroma
Range and habitat
- Breeding range
- PO : Lord Howe I. and (few) Phillip I. (Norfolk group; e of Australia)
- Non-breeding range
- to e Australia and nw Pacific off Kamchatka and Japan and to Bering Sea
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
This bird was once numerous on Norfolk Island, however an estimated 1 million birds were harvested for food, and was completely exterminated on this island by 1800. It was also threatened by the introduction of mammalian predators in the late 18th century.<p>This species is classified as least concern. However, the providence petrel is deemed to be in a precarious position because its breeding is confined to two mountain tops and one tiny islet, and is therefore at great risk from a catastrophe.<p>Graceful and supple in flight, the providence petrel has a cumbersome propensity on the ground, making it vulnerable to attack by predators. Main in causes of death are predation by the endangered Lord Howe rail and flooding of burrows. Other dangers include rat predation and drowning in longline fishing gear. The current population is estimated at only 64,000.<p>More than 99% of the global population now breeds on Lord Howe Island, where approximately 32,000 pairs nest on Mt Gower and Mt Lidgbird with some additional birds nesting on the lower slopes and Northern Hills.<p>"Diet and foraging behaviour of the Providence Petrel Pterodroma solandri on Lord Howe Island, Australia, were investigated during three consecutive breeding seasons. Diet consisted largely of squid (predominantly Cranchiidae, Onychoteuthidae, Spirulidae and Histioteuthidae) and fish (principally Myctophidae), with crustaceans (mainly Decapoda and Isopoda) being somewhat less important."<p>Some populations are diurnal, while others are nocturnal. This may be a result of different foraging areas or historical predators that are no longer present.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Diamantina Tapaculo
Scytalopus diamantinensis
Gray tapaculo with a black-barred buff vent. Females are browner above. Has a very small range, where it inhabits forests with dense understory at high elevations. The simple song consists of a single “chik” note repeated for long periods.
Azure-rumped Parrot
Tanygnathus sumatranus
A bright green parrot with a large bill that is orange in males and horn-colored in females and juveniles. Inhabits lowland and foothill forests, where it can be found in groups high in the trees. Differs from Blue-naped Parrot in the absence of a pale tail tip and yellow underwings, and from Great-billed Parrot in the lack of striking yellow wing markings. Vocal, giving a loud nasal high-pitched “klee-oo” as well as “kew” and explosive “kyow” calls in flight. Often active and vocal at night.
Black-winged Cuckooshrike
Lalage melaschistos
An overall sooty-colored cuckooshrike with broad white tips to the tail feathers. Male is dark sooty-gray with a slaty sheen, slightly paler on rump. Underparts paler toward tail; wings black. Female is very similar to male, but paler in general, often weakly barred with dark and pale gray on underparts. Male has a black mask, while female has dark lores and a faint eyering. Juvenile is blackish-brown above and brownish-gray below, heavily scaled whitish all over, with broad white tips on wing feathers. Immature like female, but more strongly and extensively barred below. Song is a loud series of whistles “pe-pe-pe-peew-peew-pew”; sometimes the starting notes are skipped. Found in all types of woodlands, including broad-leaved forests, sometimes even near cultivation during non-breeding season.
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