Cape Gannet

Morus capensis

Gregarious, strong-flying seabird. Adults are whitish with an apricot-colored head; note also the distinctive blackish arrow-shaped tail and pointed dark wingtips and hind wing. Flocks are often seen from headlands close to the shore. Constant flapping-and-gliding flight pattern and sharp plunge-diving when foraging are unique within range. Dingy brown immatures share the overall shape and flight pattern of adults. At sea, albatrosses hardly ever flap in flight. Other gannets and boobies are mostly absent from its range. Harsh, loud rollicking “wurrah, wurrah, wurrah” given at breeding colonies and while feeding.

识别特征

When seen in flight the snow-white body with the black tail, primaries and secondaries, and dark bill makes them easy to identify. At closer range the distinctive golden crown and nape, which gradually becomes white on the neck, is noticeable. Juveniles and immatures are dark brown with a pale bill, and can resemble the dark-coloured boobies at first glance.<p>Adults are about 84–94 cm (33–37 in) long and have a 171–185 cm (67–73 in) wingspan and weigh ca. 2.6 kg (5.7 lb).<p>The Cape gannet is identified from the Australasian gannet by the all-black tail, a longer black stripe down the throat (from underneath the beak) and more extensive black on the face, but all of these features are difficult to identify unless at close proximity. The Cape gannet is also very similar to the northern gannet, but the latter differs from its entirely white tail and its wings, which are only black at the tip. It also is similar to the blue-footed booby (Sula nebouxii).

分类信息

German naturalist Hinrich Lichtenstein described the Cape gannet in 1823.<p>The Sulidae, the gannets and boobies, appeared about 30 million years ago. Early Sulidae fossils most resembled the boobies, although they were more aquatic, with the gannets splitting off later, about 16 million years ago. The gannets evolved in the northern hemisphere, later colonising the southern oceans. The most ancient extant species may be the Abbott's booby, possibly the sole survivor of an otherwise extinct separate lineage. A 2011 genetic study of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA suggests that the ancestor of the gannets arose around 2.5 million years ago before splitting into northern and southern lineages. The latter then splitting into the Cape and Australasian gannets around 0.5 million years ago. The three gannets are generally considered to be separate species forming a superspecies, though they have also formerly been classified as subspecies of the northern gannet (Sula bassanus).

学名
Morus capensis
命名信息
(Lichtenstein, MHC, 1823)
Suliformes
Sulidae
Morus

分布与栖息地

繁殖区
AF : islands off Namibia and s Africa
非繁殖区
to coastal n Namibia and Mozambique
迁徙
Resident species

保护状况

种群趋势
declining

照片

分布

鸟叫声

其他鸟类

South Island Wren

South Island Wren

Xenicus gilviventris

A perky, upright wren restricted to alpine regions in the South Island of New Zealand. Has a very short tail and rounded wings, but distinctive long legs and toes. Male is a mossy green above and pale gray below, with noticeable yellow flanks and a creamy eyebrow. Female has duller plumage. Stance is often erect; constantly bobs up and down, flicking its wings, before hopping and running. Flies very short distances. Seen out in the open in rocky boulder fields, hence its common New Zealand name of “rock wren.” Gives a high-pitched three-note call which travels well in the open alpine terrain. Pairs will sometimes duet.

Turquoise Tanager

Turquoise Tanager

Tangara mexicana

Fairly widespread across northern Amazonia. Striking tanager found in the canopy in forest, edges, plantations, and gardens. Mostly seen in pairs or small single-species groups. Depending on the light can look quite dark, but has a mostly blue head and breast with black on the crown and around the bill, and blue flanks with black spots. Upperparts are mostly black with some blue highlights. Yellow belly. The call is a series of fast and high-pitched “psii” notes.

White-winged Cinclodes

White-winged Cinclodes

Cinclodes atacamensis

Uncommon to fairly common in the high Andes, where usually outnumbered by similar but smaller Cream-winged Cinclodes. Favors streams and bogs with running water and also lakeshores. Generally less confiding than Cream-winged Cinclodes. Told from Cream-winged by brighter, rustier back and more contrasting white markings with broader wing stripe and big white tail corners as opposed to smaller buff tail corners on Cream-winged. Voice also quite different.

开始您的观鸟之旅

在户外识别鸟类,并在下一次观察时随手查阅鸟类图鉴。