White-headed Petrel
Pterodroma lessonii
A large gadfly petrel with a pale white head and a distinctive dark eye-patch. Back is pale gray with darker outer wings, creating an “M” shape on the back. Look for stout black bill and pinkish-colored feet. Breed on Antipodes and Auckland Islands in the New Zealand region and also on subantarctic Indian Ocean and Macquarie Islands. Forages between the subantarctic and Antarctic convergence zones. Three similar species: Soft-plumaged Petrel is smaller with gray-brown head and band on upper breast; Gray Petrel is larger with a smaller, darker head, a pale green bill, and a long neck; and pale morph Kermadec Petrel is smaller, lacks an eye patch, has darker upperparts, and shows white patches under the wing.
Identification
The white-headed petrel distinct with a pale white head and prominent dark eye patch. It has long narrow wings and long pointed tail. The upper surface is pale grey which is contrasting with darker grey on the upper wings and the rump. The underside is mostly white. The bill is stout black with a large sharp hook. Green glands are prominent. The legs are pinkish to whitish with black patches on the toes.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Pterodroma lessonii
- Authority
- (Garnot, 1826)
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Family
- Procellariidae
- Genus
- Pterodroma
Range and habitat
- Breeding range
- SO : subantarctic islands of South Indian and South Pacific oceans, from Crozet (sw Indian Ocean) to Antipodes (se of Stewart I.) and Auckland is. (s of South I.; New Zealand)
- Non-breeding range
- to waters of s South America, s Africa, s Australasia and Antarctica
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Eurasian Magpie
Pica pica
Common and conspicuous, this flashy, long-tailed crow relative is unmistakable, and its loud chattering calls are a familiar sound in many areas. Found in open and semiopen areas from farmland and open woodland to towns and gardens, singly or more often in pairs or groups. Bulky stick nest often conspicuous in tall tree or hedgerow. Boldly pied plumage is distinctive, with white belly, white back, and white wing patches. Wings show blue-green gloss in good light.
Little Gull
Hydrocoloeus minutus
Smallest gull in the world. Compact with short legs, short rounded wings, and small bill. Breeding adults have black head, pale gray back, white wingtips, and blackish underwings. Nonbreeding adults have a black ear patch and smudgy cap. Immatures are similar to nonbreeding adults but with a black “M”-shaped pattern on the upperwing, especially noticeable in flight. When perched, this looks like a thick horizontal stripe across the wing and shoulder. Primarily a Eurasian species, breeding in marshy wetlands and wintering offshore or in coastal waters. Uncommon to rare in North America, where typically found singly among flocks of Bonaparte’s Gulls on lakes, beaches, estuaries, or bays. Note adult Little Gull's smaller size, white wingtips, dark underwings, and more rounded wings compared to Bonaparte's.
Kinglet Manakin
Machaeropterus regulus
Chunky little, short-tailed bird of lowland and foothill forest. Male is distinctive with bright red crown and bold white stripes on reddish belly. Female lacks red crown but shows faint streaking on sides unlike any other manakin. Inconspicuous; elaborate display dance infrequently seen. Found in the lower to middle levels of forest. Listen for its strong “chew” call.
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