Query on database photo of Sooty Shearwater (1 Viewer)

Marmot

Well-known member

• Sep 3, 2006

• #1

Can anyone clarify if the database picture of the Sooty Shearwater [Puffinus griseus] is correct due to a query about it.

http://www.birdforum.net/bird_view.php?bid=7821

It would need moving if incorrect.

 

Jane Turner

Well-known member

• Sep 3, 2006

• #2

Its definitely not a Sooty Shearwater. I have no literature with me to be able to say what it is though.

edit: that pic is a Sooty - the one on the Peru Pelagic is a different species

this one for clarity

http://www.birdforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=57365

Its not Westland Petrel either - and I'm having trouble recalling the other dark species! Looks like White-chinned - but I see no white chin! http://www.tommy777.addr.com/White-chinned_Petrel.jpg

 

Last edited: Sep 3, 2006

E

Edward woodwood

Member

• Sep 3, 2006

• #3

White-chinned Petrel

bill colour etc

white patch very variable

http://www.shearwater.nl/seabird-osteology/Images Eric Preston 2/Pic White-chinned Petrel.bmp

 

Marmot

Well-known member

• Sep 3, 2006

• #4

After Janes answer I'm confused.

So the one I have put the DB link to is A Sooty Shearwater.

 

Jane Turner

Well-known member

• Sep 3, 2006

• #5

The one in the database is a Sooty, The Lima bird is a White-chinned

 

JANJ

Well-known member

• Sep 3, 2006

• #6

Phuu, I was begining to think that might have had a stroke or something
when Tim delivered his answer 8-P

JanJ

 

B

BirdsPeru

Alejandro Tabini

• Sep 3, 2006

• #7

thanks everyone for the clarification. I will correct my pictures names to white-chinned Petrel.

Once again thanks and sorry for the confusion.

Alejandro

 

Tom Tarrant

Bird and Wildlife Tour Guide

Opus Editor

• Sep 4, 2006

• #8

Hi Guys,

Agree with the Sooty Shearwater, but why is the Procellaria not a Black Petrel?
I'd just like to know the features used in making this ID. We recently had our (Queenslands) first Westland Petrel and apparently the bill-tip is the diagnostic-feature.
See http://www.aviceda.org/abid/birdimages.php?action=birdimage&bid=714&fid=56&p=2&pagesize=1

Tom


Tom

BirdsPeru said:

thanks everyone for the clarification. I will correct my pictures names to white-chinned Petrel.

Once again thanks and sorry for the confusion.

Alejandro

Click to expand...

 

Chris Benesh

So much work, so little time...so let's go birding

• Sep 4, 2006

• #9

Tom Tarrant said:

Agree with the Sooty Shearwater, but why is the Procellaria not a Black Petrel?
I'd just like to know the features used in making this ID. We recently had our (Queenslands) first Westland Petrel and apparently the bill-tip is the diagnostic-feature.

Click to expand...

Hi Tom,

Black (Parkinson's) Petrel is another Procellaria with a dark-tipped bill (which is also less robust than that of the larger Procellaria), much like a Flesh-footed Shearwater-sized version of a Westland Petrel. White-chinned Petrel is a large Westland Petrel-sized Procellaria, but lacks the dark tip to the bill. As others have noted, the white chin in quite often undetectable or barely detectable in the field. It has been awhile since I've seen any numbers of these Procellaria, but I assume the identification criteria hasn't changed that much.

Chris

 

Last edited: Sep 4, 2006

Tom Tarrant

Bird and Wildlife Tour Guide

Opus Editor

• Sep 4, 2006

• #10

Hi Chris,
Thanks, just took a look at

http://www.aviceda.org/abid/birdimages.php?action=birdspecies&fid=56&bid=713

see what you mean about the bill-tip.

Tom

 

Marcus Lawson

I've had to have a few of these!

• Sep 4, 2006

• #11

I was lucky enough to do some pelagics off New Zealand towards the end of last year (Kaikoura and Hauraki Gulf) and here are a selection of photos which hopefully help illustrate the bill pattern of the three similar species. As Tim has mentioned the bill pattern can be quite variable and even at close range on a bobbing boat it can be very hard to see the white on the chin of White-Chinned - in fact on one bird it was only after I had processed the image in photoshop that the white chin became obvious. (the wonders of digital photography :t: )
1: Black Petrel
2&3: Westland Petrel
4&5 White-chinned Petrel

 

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Last edited: Sep 4, 2006

Jane Turner

Well-known member

• Sep 4, 2006

• #12

Thanks Marcus. I imagine they are tricksy at sea - and flight/structural differences to go on?

 

Marcus Lawson

I've had to have a few of these!

• Sep 4, 2006

• #13

I can't remember to be honest Jane, but here's a couple of flight shots, 1st is Black Petrel and 2nd is White-chinned.

 

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