Seabird Sunday ID CHALLENGE 22 November 2020 – Advanced by Karen Dick
This medium-sized seabird was seen beyond the Continental Shelf during a January pelagic off Eaglehawk Neck in Tasmania. As with many birds of this type, it was seen as a fly-by, not stopping to feed.
Photos borrowed, with thanks from Ashley Thompson.
Solution:
This is one of those birds that looks so similar to several other species that it seems like an impossible task to identify it. But step-by step, shape, plumage, bill-shape, face markings, underwing marking all work together to narrow down the options and brings us to Juan-Fernandez Petrel Pterodroma externa.
This was the first time this species had been seen in Tasmania and was new to everyone on the boat that day. But by looking at the features and the photos of the bird, we had reached the identification before the boat had even returned to shore. Lots of lifer dances on board.
Comments:
Sonja Ross So: the bill says it’s a Petrel. The facial pattern limits it to a few species.
The underwing is distinctive as it is basically pale with just that distinctive dark mark which fits a Juan Fernandez Petrel. What we can see of the upper wing seems to fit that too, so sticking with thaat!
Sue Gadsby Lee: what a pretty looking bird this is. I had no idea apart from being poss Petrel….out with the book. Bill is good for Petrel, white front with a band under the neck narrows down to a few species. The small black mark from the carpal joint narrows down to just JF Petrel – a vagrant, so that’d be a special sighting for the day.
Jannette Manins: Juan Fernandez Petrel?
Grey cap contrasts with black eye patch, small black tick mark at carpal, white extends into dark wing points, grey cape and hind neck, narrow black trailing edge and evidence of pale crescent on rump.
Elke Link: Leafing through the seabirds in the ABG. Not quite right for a prion. Looking for white underside with black edging around tail and wings, dark elbow, dark eyepatch, neck band. Passing the shearwaters to the petrels. Getting stuck at the vagrant Juan Fernandez Petrel, which would be very unlikely. Keeping going. Not a Storm-petrel and oops, I’ve reached the gannets. Right. Back over the same pages. And again. And getting stuck at Juan Fernandez. Again. Then – a bright idea: eBird! And now I think my guess might even be right! 🧐
eBird: https://ebird.org/species/jufpet
Learn more/conservation status: http://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/juan-fernandez-petrel
Women Birders Australia 