Gray-backed Storm-Petrel
Garrodia nereis
A very small seabird of southern oceans. Gray-black on head, neck, throat, and top of breast. Back and upperwing are paler in color and rump is ash-gray. Note the white belly and white underwing with a black edge. Shows relatively short black legs and square tail. Forages in deep waters of the subantarctic; in the New Zealand region, rarely seen near the mainland. Differs from other black-and-white storm-petrels by its gray rather than white rump. White-faced Storm-Petrel also has a gray rump but is larger with longer legs, white on the face, and a more bounding flight.
Identification
Grey-backed storm petrel is a small bird, 21-44 g in weight with a 39-40 cm wingspan. Like others in its family it is dark grey overall with a black head and belly, but it can be distinguished from other storm-petrels in its range by its light grey rump compared to the white rump on others. The Grey-backed petrel has a pale back, black legs, a square tail and a white belly.
Taxonomy
The genus Garrodia was created by William Alexander Forbes in 1881 and named after English zoologist Alfred Henry Garrod, while the specific descriptor is an allusion to the Nereids, the sea nymphs of Greek mythology.
- Scientific name
- Garrodia nereis
- Authority
- (Gould, 1841)
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Family
- Hydrobatidae
- Genus
- Garrodia
Range and habitat
The grey-backed storm petrel has a distribution in the subantarctic in three disjunct populations, with one off of South America, on off of South Africa, and one off of Australia. It breeds in the Falkland Islands, Chatham Islands, Gough Island, Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Island, the New Zealand Subantarctic Islands, and Fiordland on the New Zealand mainland.
- Breeding range
- SO : subantarctic islands: Falkland, South Georgia and Gough (s Atlantic Ocean), Crozet and Kerguelen (sw, se Indian Ocean), Macquarie (few; far se of Australia), Chatham, Antipodes and Auckland (e, se, and s of South I., New Zealand)
- Non-breeding range
- to s Tasman Sea and Antarctic Convergence
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
Grey-backed storm petrels are mostly solitary during the non-breeding season. They breed in large colonies from August to March, where they share parental duties.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
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Arborophila ardens
Small game bird restricted to the tropical rainforests of southern Hainan Island, where it is the only forest-dwelling partridge. Body is brown above and gray below; head is black with a bright white ear patch and an orange collar. Unlikely to be confused with the only other game bird in its habitat, the Hainan Peacock Pheasant, which is far larger and gray all over. Shy and far more often heard than seen; ringing song is often heard at dawn.
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Small grayish flycatcher, very similar to other flycatchers, especially Dusky and Gray. Subtle differences include smaller bill with limited pale base, slightly more peaked crown, and longer wingtips. Also note habitat during breeding season: Hammond's prefers mature conifers, often seen higher up in trees than Dusky. Habitat overlaps more with other flycatchers during migration and winter; found in a variety of brushy wooded habitats. Back is greenish with a yellow wash to belly; fall birds in fresh plumage are brighter than spring and summer birds. Voice is key to identification, especially call notes: high-pitched "peek" and whistled "peer." Without an excellent view, silent birds often best left unidentified.
Brazilian Teal
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