Shearwater ID request Pakistan (1 Viewer)

[Tragopania]

Hi. A friend sent this Shearwater photo from his old gallery. It was recorded in 2010 15 Km off the coast of Karachi in open sea. Could this be Persian Shearwater or Wedge-tailed Shearwater? Or anything else? In any case, it would be the first photo-documentation of any Shearwater from Pakistan so far.

Much thanks

 

[andyb39]

Persian looks the best candidate.

 

[Himalaya]

The best meaning not certain ?

 

[andyb39]

The best meaning not certain ?

Well, there's only one image, and it's not the best angle. I can only say the head pattern and bill shape looks better for Persian - you can compare with some of the images here: https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-CGjWL/i-QCqDF4n.

All Wedge-tailed seen in the UAE were all-dark and this is true for birds seen in India, according to eBird.

Looking at the distribution of Persian on the map here, it's easy to imagine one being seen off the Pakistan coast: https://ebird.org/species/pershe1/IN.

 

[AlexC]

Princeton Filed Guides' "Birds of India, Pakistan, [etc.]" indicates Persian Shearwater is a visitor to waters adjacent to Pakistan - not sure of the records though. I would imagine there is some data missing in Pakistan due to less eBird activity there as well. But it is the only shearwater indicated as within the vicinity - moreso than Wedge-tailed.

Great to have this sighting added to the records, eBird would be a great place to keep it!