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Observations of collared petrels (Pterodroma brevipes) on Vanua Lava, Vanuatu, and a review of the species’ breeding distribution

  • Publication Type

    Journal Article

  • Publication Year

    2012

  • Author(s)

    A.J.D. Tennyson; C.M. Miskelly; S.L. Totterman

  • Journal Name

    Notornis

  • Volume, Issue

    59, 1&2

  • Pagination

    39-48

  • Article Type

    Paper

  • DOI

    https://doi.org/10.63172//587242zvfxai

Keywords

Collared petrel; conservation; plumage colour; Pterodroma brevipes magnificens; Vanuatu


Observations of collared petrels (Pterodroma brevipes) on Vanua Lava, Vanuatu, and a review of the species’ breeding distribution

Notornis, 59 (1&2), 39-48

A.J.D. Tennyson; C.M. Miskelly; S.L. Totterman (2012)

Article Type: Paper

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We report a polymorphic population of collared petrels (Pterodroma brevipes) apparently breeding on Vanua Lava, northern Vanuatu, in the austral autumn-winter. This is one of only 5 known extant colonies of the species. One of the 2 birds captured by us matched the description of the recently described dark plumaged Pt. b. magnificens which had never been reported caught ashore previously. However, the other bird caught was a paler individual indicating that the taxon is variable in plumage colour, like other Pt. brevipes populations. We suggest that the 2 other criteria used to define the subspecies Pt. b. magnificens (body size and breeding chronology) are also questionable and require further investigation.