MacGillivray's Prion
Pachyptila macgillivrayi
A pale powder-blue-and-white seabird with a faint grayish dark “M” across the upperwings. Note the dark blue “thumb mark” collar, the blue eye-stripe, the white eyebrow, the white throat, and the grayish cap. Restricted to two known breeding islands, Saint Paul in the South Indian Ocean, and Gough in the South Atlantic. Almost identical to Antarctic Prion, but bulkier and more heavy-chested, with a slightly wider bill. All but inseparable from Salvin’s Prion, with which it shares the breeding island of Gough, and with which it was once considered one species; MacGillivray’s is incrementally broader-billed, but birds seen at sea may not be identifiable.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Pachyptila macgillivrayi
- Authority
- (Mathews, 1912)
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Family
- Procellariidae
- Genus
- Pachyptila
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
New Zealand Falcon
Falco novaeseelandiae
A compact raptor endemic to New Zealand, with streaky cream-and-brown breast and reddish-brown undertail. In flight, note rapid beating of long pointed wings, and long rounded tail shape while gliding. Females are much larger than males. Widely distributed throughout New Zealand in native and exotic forest, as well as in tussock grassland and farmland. Will aggressively dive-bomb intruders close to nesting sites. Distinctive “kek-kek-kek” call given during attacks. Similar to Swamp Harrier but smaller; rarely feeds on road kill, actively chases prey, and glides with wings set flat rather than a shallow “V” shape like the Swamp Harrier.
Solomons Brush Cuckoo
Cacomantis addendus
A medium-sized cuckoo, with a warm buff to chestnut colored chest and belly. Gray eyering and heavily barred tail. Lack of a yellow eyering separates it from Fan-tailed Cuckoo (which is rare in the Solomons). Most frequently encountered by its song, a slow series of well spaced whistles, each lower than the last.
Natal Spurfowl
Pternistis natalensis
A medium-size brownish francolin with distinctive yellow nostrils and a bright orange-red bill and legs. The back is mottled brown, and the underpart feathers are edged brown and white, giving it a marbled scaled appearance. Juveniles are similar to adults, with duller legs and bill. It is common in savanna, preferring thicker understory. The call is a loud raucous “kak-kreek” that variably accelerates and decelerates. Red-billed Francolin differs from Natal Francolin by having barred (not scaled) underparts and a yellow eye-ring. Swainson’s Francolin differs from Natal Francolin by having red facial skin and dark blackish legs.
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