Magenta Petrel

Pterodroma magentae

One of the rarest seabirds in the world, endemic to the Chatham Islands. Medium-sized bird with a distinctive dark gray head, neck, and upper breast and a gray chin. The rest of the underside is white with a light gray underwing. During breeding, the birds mainly forage south and east of their colonies, venturing across the Pacific Ocean to South American and tropical seas in the winter. Many petrel species can appear similar to the Magenta Petrel but can be ruled out if they appear partially hooded, show traces of an “M” across their back, or are found outside of the Chatham Island range during breeding season.

Identification

This medium-sized petrel has a brownish-grey head, neck, and upper breast, with white underparts. The undersides of the wings are brown. It has a black bill and pink legs. Adults weigh 400–580 g.<p>The bird nests in 1–3 m long burrows under dense forest. They form long-term monogamous pair bonds, raising one egg at a time, and both partners incubate the egg and feed the chick. The breeding season is between September and May, during which time the birds forage over the open ocean.

Taxonomy

Genus: Pterodroma; Family: Procellariidae; Order: Procellariiformes.

Scientific name
Pterodroma magentae
Authority
(Giglioli & Salvadori, 1869)
Order
Procellariiformes
Family
Procellariidae
Genus
Pterodroma

Range and habitat

Breeding range: PO : Chatham Is. (e of South I., New Zealand). Non-breeding range: to Pitcairn group (se Polynesia), Juan Fernandez and Nazca Ridge (w of c South America).

Breeding range
PO : Chatham Is. (e of South I., New Zealand)
Non-breeding range
to Pitcairn group (se Polynesia), Juan Fernandez and Nazca Ridge (w of c South America)
Migration
Complete migrants

Behavior

Migration pattern: Complete migrants.

Conservation

Population trend: rising.

Population trend
rising

Photos

Distribution

Other Birds

Masked Trogon

Masked Trogon

Trogon personatus

Average red-bellied trogon of subtropical forests. Male is iridescent green on breast, head, and back; female is brown. Namesake dark mask is usually obvious, especially on females. Nearly identical to Collared Trogon but very little overlap; Masked is almost always found at higher elevations. Where both are possible, look especially at tail pattern on males: large white tips on underside of tail feathers, otherwise dark with very fine white barring. On females, look for evenly barred undertail with large white tips combined with contrasting black face. Usually found singly or in pairs, perched quietly from the understory to the subcanopy. Listen for slow series of 3–6 descending whistles.

Banda Myzomela

Banda Myzomela

Myzomela boiei

A small honeyeater with a downcurved bill. Striking male has a candy-apple red hood, back, and rump, contrasting with the black wings, tail, and chest band and the white belly. Female is uniform gray-brown except for a diagnostic faded red wash on the face and throat. Singles or pairs inhabit lowland forests, forest edge, mangroves, and open wooded areas, sometimes joining mixed-species flocks. Unmistakable, as it is the only myzomela in its restricted range in the Banda Islands. Song comprises several introductory notes followed by a rapid warble: “chi-chi-churrrrrrrr.”

Brown Tit-Babbler

Brown Tit-Babbler

Macronus striaticeps

A fairly small bird of forest and scrub from the lowlands to middle elevations in the mountains. Rufous on the back, wings, and tail. Black head is streaked white, with creamy throat blending to pale rufous underparts with pale streaking on chest and down the sides of the throat. Races differ. Sulu birds have a brown crown, less streaking, and uniformly buffy underparts. Brown Tit-Babbler is somewhat similar to Visayan and Mindanao Pygmy-Babblers, but has a pale throat. Voice includes a varied whistled duet, plus various rasps and chatters.

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