Heinroth's Shearwater
Puffinus heinrothi
A small, distinctively proportioned shearwater with a comparatively long-necked, long-tailed, round-winged appearance. Entirely dark plumage contrasts with variably white bars on the underside of remarkably short, stubby wings. Long thin bill is often obvious, as is this species’ habit of flying with its head raised above its body. Pale morph is paler below and overall lighter brown, but retains odd proportions. The dark morph of Wedge-tailed Shearwater is somewhat similar, but much larger and longer-tailed. Black Noddy is similar in size, but has a more buoyant, bouncy tern-like flight. Christmas Shearwater is most similar, but has a proportionally shorter bill and tail. Short-tailed and Sooty Shearwaters are similar in plumage, but their toes project beyond their tail, unlike in Heinroth’s Shearwater.
Identification
Heinroth's shearwater (Puffinus heinrothi) is a poorly known seabird in the family Procellariidae. Probably a close relative of the little shearwater or Audubon's shearwater (with which it is sometimes considered conspecific), it is distinguished by a long and slender bill and a brown-washed underside. This species is restricted to the seas around the Bismarck Archipelago and northern Solomon Islands. The breeding sites of the species have never been found, although reports of individuals (including recently fledged chicks) on Bougainville and Kolombangara strongly suggest that they breed there, possibly high in the mountains (an inference based on the breeding behaviour of close relatives). There is very little information about the species and it is uncertain if it is threatened or in decline.
Taxonomy
Genus: Puffinus; Family: Procellariidae; Order: Procellariiformes.
- Scientific name
- Puffinus heinrothi
- Authority
- Reichenow, 1919
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Family
- Procellariidae
- Genus
- Puffinus
Range and habitat
Breeding range: PO : presumably montane Bougainville, Kolombangara and Rendova (n, wc Solomon Is.). Non-breeding range: to Bismarck Arch., Flores and Molucca seas.
- Breeding range
- PO : presumably montane Bougainville, Kolombangara and Rendova (n, wc Solomon Is.)
- Non-breeding range
- to Bismarck Arch., Flores and Molucca seas
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
Migration pattern: Complete migrants.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
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