Menu

Volume 45, No. 1

Search by author or title:

Plumage variation, morphology and identification of Collared Pterodroma brevipes and Gould's P. leucoptera petrels


Authors

DEAN J. PORTELLI

Citation

PORTELLI, D.J. 2017. Plumage variation, morphology and identification of Collared Pterodroma brevipes and Gould's P. leucoptera petrels. Marine Ornithology 45: 59 - 65

Received 24 October 2016, accepted 4 January 2017

Date Published: 2017/04/15
Date Online: 2017/02/28
Key words: White-winged Petrel, Procellariidae, polymorphism, seabird identification, taxonomy

Abstract

Collared Petrel Pterodroma brevipes and Gould's Petrel P. leucoptera are two closely related gadfly petrels that breed on islands in the Pacific Ocean. Pale individuals of the polymorphic Collared Petrel are remarkably similar to Gould's Petrel, so it is unsurprising that published descriptions of differences between the two species are incomplete or misleading. Museum specimens of both species and live Gould's Petrels were examined to identify diagnostic plumage characteristics. Pale Collared Petrels were most reliably distinguished from Gould's Petrels by their proportionally longer and tapered tail and by a clear contrast between the grey primaries and white primary coverts on the underwing. Pale Collared Petrels also exhibited a different pigment pattern on the side of the head; a subtle contrast between the breast sides and crown, which is absent in Gould's Petrel; a thicker dark trailing edge on the underwing; and a usually diffuse, rather than abrupt (as in Gould's Petrel), posterior edge of the breast patch. The presence of a collar across the upper breast was not diagnostic of intermediate Collared Petrels. Additional characteristics that may facilitate identification of some Gould's Petrels include a thinner dark ulnar-carpal bar on the underwing, prominent white blotches within the dark ulnar-carpal bar, and conspicuous white sides to the spread tail.

References


ANONYMOUS. 2010. Observations ornithologiques. Te Manu 69: 2.

BRETAGNOLLE, V. & SHIRIHAI, H. 2010 A new taxon of collared petrel Pterodroma brevipes from the Banks Islands, Vanuatu. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 130: 286-301. 

BROOKE, M. 2004. Albatrosses and Petrels Across the World. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

CARTER, M., HANSBRO, P., STEPHENSON, B., PALLISER, T. & BAXTER, R. 2009. Collared petrels Pterodroma brevipes in Norfolk Island waters. Melbourne, Australia: Birdlife Australia Rarities Committee.

DICKINSON, E.C. (Ed.) 2003. The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. Third ed. London, UK: Christopher Helm.

ENTICOTT, J. & TIPLING, D. 1997. Photographic Handbook of the Seabirds of the World. London, UK: New London. 

FULLAGAR, P. 1976. Seabird islands number 35: Cabbage Tree Island, New South Wales. The Australian Bird Bander 14: 94-97. 

GANGLOFF, B. 2010. Systematics and phylogeography in gadfly petrels (Aves: Procellariiformes) and implications for conservation. PhD Thesis. Poitiers, France: University of Poitiers.

HARRISON, P. 1983. Seabirds: An Identification Guide. Sydney, Australia: Reed. 

HARRISON, P. 1987. Seabirds of the World: A Photographic Guide. London, UK: Christopher Helm. 

IMBER, M.J. & JENKINS, J.A.F. 1981. The New Caledonian Petrel. Notornis 28: 149-160. 

JOUANIN, C. & MOUGIN, J.L. 1979. Order Procellariiformes. In: MAYR, E. & COTTRELL, G.W. (Eds.) Check-list of the Birds of the World. Vol. 1. Cambridge, MA: Museum of Comparative Zoology. 

MARCHANT, S. & HIGGINS, P.J. (Eds.) 1990. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 1: Ratites to ducks. Melbourne, Australia: Oxford University Press. 

MISKELLY, C.M. 2001. Effect of plumage wear on field identification of white-naped petrels, Pterodroma cervicalis. Emu 101: 167-168. 

MURPHY, R.C. 1929. Birds collected during the Whitney South Sea Expedition, X. American Museum Novitates 370: 1-17. 

NAUROIS, R.D. 1978. Procellariidae reproducteurs en Nouvelle-Calédonie pendant l'été austral. Comptes Rendus Academie des Sciences, Paris 287: 269-271. 

ONLEY, D. & SCOFIELD, P. 2007. Albatrosses, Petrels and Shearwaters of the World. London, UK: Christopher Helm.

PORTELLI, D.J. 2016. Plumage variation in Gould's petrel Pterodroma leucoptera: an evaluation of the taxonomic validity of P. l. caledonica (Imber & Jenkins 1981). Notornis 63: 130-141.

PRIDDEL, D. & CARLILE, N. 2007. Population size and breeding success of Gould's petrel Pterodroma leucoptera leucoptera on Cabbage Tree Island, New South Wales: 1996–97 to 2005–06. Corella 31: 79-82. 

PRIDDEL, D., CARLILE, N., PORTELLI, D., ET AL. 2014. Pelagic distribution of Gould's petrel (Pterodroma leucoptera): linking shipboard and onshore observations with remote-tracking data. Emu 114: 360-370. 

RAUST, P. 2007. Mission à Raivavae. Te Manu 60: 4-5. 

ROBERSON, D. & BAILEY, S.F. 1991a. Cookilaria Petrels in the eastern Pacific Ocean. American Birds 45: 1067-1081. 

ROBERSON, D. & BAILEY, S.F. 1991b. Cookilaria petrels in the eastern Pacific Ocean: Identification and distribution. American Birds 45: 399-403. 

SEITRE, R. & SEITRE, J. 1991. Causes de disparition des oiseaux terrestres de Polynésie Française. Occasional Paper Series No. 8. Nouméa, New Caledonia: South Pacific Regional Environmental Programme.

SERVENTY, D.L., SERVENTY, V. & WARHAM, J. 1971. The Handbook of Australia Sea-birds. Sydney, Australia: Reed.

SHIRIHAI, H., PYM, T., KRETZSCHMAR, J., MOCE, K., TAUKEI, A. & WATLING, D. 2009. First observations of Fiji Petrel Pseudobulweria macgillivrayi at sea: off Gau Island, Fiji, in May 2009. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 129: 129-148. 

SPEAR, L.B., HOWELL, S.N.G. & AINLEY, D.G. 1992. Notes on the at-sea identification of some Pacific gadfly petrels (Genus: Pterodroma). Colonial Waterbirds 15: 202-218. 

TENNYSON, A.J.D., MISKELLY, C.M. & TOTTERMAN, S.L. 2012. Observations of collared petrels (Pterodroma brevipes) on Vanua Lava, Vanuatu, and a review of the species' breeding distribution. Notornis 59: 39-48. 

WATLING, D. 1986. Notes on the collared petrel Pterodroma brevipes. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 106: 63-70. 

Search by author or title:

Browse previous volumes: