Bannerman's Shearwater
Puffinus bannermani
A small black-and-white shearwater with relatively broad wings and a long rounded tail. Underwing very white, contrasting with darker smudgy marks along the leading edge of the wing. Two dark smudge marks are often visible at the collar, extending down from the hood. Somewhat similar to Bryan’s Shearwater, but much larger, and white does not extend above the eye, creating a darker-faced appearance. Also lacks the distinctive rapidly fluttering flight of Bryan’s.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Puffinus bannermani
- Authority
- Mathews & Iredale, 1915
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Family
- Procellariidae
- Genus
- Puffinus
Range and habitat
Little is known of this species other than that it breeds in the Volcano Islands in the Ogasawara Group to the southwest of Japan and doesn't seem to range far from this area.
- Breeding range
- PO : Higashijima (Ogasawara=Bonin Is.) and Minami-iwo-jima (Volcano=Iwo Is.; far se Japan)
- Non-breeding range
- to Izu Is. (s of c Japan)
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Comoro Thrush
Turdus bewsheri
A typical thrush in shape and size, but with unusual brown coloration. Varies significantly across the three islands where it occurs, and these populations may be full species. The Grand Comoro birds have plain pale brown underparts, the Moheli birds have darker blotching below, and the distinctive Anjouan birds are scaled on the underparts. Found in humid forest, secondary habitats, and plantations, mostly at higher elevations, though down to sea level in some places. The song is a typical thrush mix of whistles and quavering notes, whose exact structure varies on the different islands. Also gives “pik” notes, short trills, and a high-pitched “seet.”
Gray-banded Munia
Lonchura vana
A very localised but locally common, small bird of mid-montane grasslands on the Bird’s Head of New Guinea. Gray-brown back, pale gray head, white face, yellow rump and tail. Rufous belly and gray chest demarcated by a pale gray band. Forms small flocks in wet grasslands where it is easily seen along roads. No other munia species co-occur with this species. Call, soft tweeting notes.
Marbled Frogmouth
Podargus ocellatus
Large, nocturnal bird with very wide "frog-like" bill, an inhabitant of rainforest habitats. Compared to similar Tawny Frogmouth (often found in urban and suburban areas), Marbled has longer tail in proportion to its body, longer barred tufts above the bill, and a more blobby or marbled pattern on the underparts. Unusual call is a descending, turkey-like gobble, followed by a loud snap of the bill.
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