DOCSLIB.ORG

Red-Billed Tropiebird in Suffolk

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Red-Billed Tropiebird in Suffolk Red-billed Tropiebird in Suffolk Alan Knox, Howard Mendel and Nigel Odin n 17th February 1993, following a report of bird carcases on the shore­ Oline at Landguard Point, Suffolk, the area was surveyed by NO. A few emaciated Common Guillemots Uria aalge were found and, on part of the Harwich harbour shore inside the spit, the carcase of a Red-billed Tropiebird Phaetimn aethereus was discovered. It was on the third tideline up the beach and would have been washed ashore at least* 36 hours previously. Although the eyes were sunken, the carcase was in good condition and had somehow escaped the attentions of tideline scavengers. Examination of the specimen The specimen was prepared as a study skin with one wing partly spread (Ipswich Museum R. 1993-19; plate 125). X-ray and visual examination of the trunk after skinning revealed that the left coracoid had been dislocated from the sternum and the anterior end of the sternal keel had recently been frac­ tured. It is unlikely that these injuries would have occurred during the prepa­ ration of the specimen. The skeleton of the trunk was preserved (Natural History Museum, Tring, S/1993.36.1). Some of the plumage was contaminated widi oil, particularly on the neck. A sample of the soiled feathers was sent to the Institute of Offshore Engineering at Heriot-Watt University for analysis. Although it was not pos­ sible to determine the precise origin of the oil from its biomarker fingerprint, the oil was considered to be probably a medium/heavy fuel oil and it was still fairly fresh, having been exposed to the elements for only one to five days, depending on the weather. The oil showed signs of physical weathering, but there was no evidence of microbial degradation. The analysis suggested that the oil was probably not from a slick and was more likely from a drop in the water or from the deck of a ship. The bird was sexed internally as a female, with an ovary about 8 mm long. The ova were indiscernible, probably because the tissues were starting to decompose. The gizzard did not contain any fresh food, but several small fish vertebrae, fish scales, two otoliths (fish ear bones), a fish eye lens, a small 488 \linl. «»rfv 87: 488-491. Orlohcr I994| Red-billed Tropicbird in Suffolk 489 squid beak and various other remains were recovered. Of the items which could readily be identified, die otolidis and vertebrae had come from a flying- fish, most likely of die genus Hirundichthys, and from an individual probably about 12-19 cm long. The otoliths were more highly eroded than is usual for food remains in bird gizzards, suggesting that they had been in the tropic- bird's gizzard for a long time. Description Generally white, with heavy black bars on suggest that the bird was immature. Contour feathers on upperparts. Head: white with solid feathers apparently very fresh. Most wing black in front of eye, becoming more broken feathers fresh, although a few inner behind eye and broadening on nape. Dark secondaries, inner greater coverts and other areas on primaries and inner secondaries jet- inner coverts very worn and much browner. black. Outer primary coverts all black, lacking Tertials fresh. Bill orange-red with clear black white on outer edges or tips. Lower lesser on die cutting edges, the tip and around the coverts black with only narrow white tips, the nostrils. black forming an extensive bar on inner wing; MEASUREMENTS Left wing 290 mm, right wing upper lesser coverts with whiter bases, centres 293 mm, tail 195 mm, exposed culmen 60.5 and edges, though still heavily marked. The mm, bill depth 20 mm, weight at time of heavy markings on the upperparts and head preparation 540 g. Racial identification The plumage differences between the subspecies of Red-billed Tropicbird and their geographic ranges have been summarised by Knox (1994). The two Atlantic races (one of which also occurs in die eastern Pacific), aethereus and mesonauta, are significantly larger than indicus from die Red Sea, Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea: wing 296-330 mm, bill 59-66 mm (both sexes) on aethereus and mesonauta, compared with wing 267-315 mm, bill 52-62 mm on indicus (Cramp & Simmons 1977; Brown et al. 1982). The small size (particularly wing length) of the Suffolk bird, the distinctive wing markings (especially the heavy black bar on the lesser coverts) and the characteristic bill colouring all indicate that the Landguard specimen belongs to the race indicus, rather than either of the two Atlantic subspecies. The bill length of die Suffolk bird is, however, not diagnostic. Bill depth was measured on skins at The Natural History Museum, Tring. For aethereus and mesonauta 125. Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus, Suffolk, February 1993. Specimen now at Ipswich Museum (A. G. Knox) 490 Red-billed Tropicbird in Suffolk the bill depth was 21-23 mm (both sexes, n = 17), compared with 18-22 mm (n = 16) for indicus. The Suffolk bird's bill depth, at 20 mm, therefore fits bet­ ter as indicus than as aethereus or mesonauta. Identification of the bird as belonging to the race indicus is contrary to an earlier determination (Anon. 1993), even though the plumage and bill colour arc clearly visible in the photograph accompanying that article. Discussion There are no accepted records of Red-billed Tropicbird for Britain, or, indeed, for northwest Europe. Two old records from England were recently reassessed by the British Ornithologists' Union Records Committee, but neither was found to be acceptable (BOU 1993; Knox 1994). The occurrence of the species in the Western Palearctic has been summarised by Knox (1994). This includes a tidclinc corpse found in the Netherlands on 27th January 1985 (Bruinzcel 1986). It had fresh flying-fish in its stomach and the origins of the bird arc considered to be obscure. It has not been accepted onto the Dutch list. Tropicbirds often feed at night, frequendy making use of the lights from ships to catch squid and flying-fish. At such times, they arc liable to crash-land on deck after colliding with the ship (Tuck 1978; R. Burridge verbally). Such birds that come aboard at night are often uninjured, but they invariably try to hide in some quiet corner and have great difficulty taking off without assis­ tance. Once under a container on deck, a bird would be well protected from the elements until the corpse was found during unloading or when the decks were being washed down. The carcase would then be dumped overboard either in harbour or shortly after leaving port (R. Burridge verbally). Landguard Point at die southeast corner of Suffolk is a shingle spit protect­ ing the mouth of the Orwell Estuary. The point is adjacent to the container port of Felixstowe, and shipping heading to the nearby ports of Ipswich and Harwich (Parkcston Quay) also passes close by. It is most likely that the tropicbird crash-landed on a ship probably bound for Felixstowe and died on board. The injuries noted above may have occurred when die bird collided with the ship or crashed to the deck. The carcase presumably went over the side near the port and was brought ashore on the inside of the spit on the next tide. Where the bird came aboard the ship is not known, but its racial identification and the flying-fish remains in the gut strongly suggest that uiis was not in British waters. The oil on the plumage may have been picked up on the deck of the vessel. The nearest part of the normal range of indicus is the Red Sea. If the bird had come aboard a ship there, it might have remained alive for a few days and then the cool February weather may have slowed the decay of the corpse. A container ship would take six or seven days to travel from the eastern Mediterranean to Felixstowe. Red-billed Tropicbirds have apparendy occurred several times at Le Havre, France, or on ships headed there (Vincent 1993), although none of the records has been accepted. Perhaps it is only a coincidence that one of the records was in January 1993, but it is interesting to note that the Dutch tideline corpse was ;dso in January. Red-bilkd Tropicbird in Suffolk 491 Sub-category D3 of the British & Irish list (see BOU 1992) is reserved for species that have only been found dead on the tideline. Category D is not part of the main list. D3 is intended for species that may or may not have arrived alive, and naturally, in British or Irish waters. It seems most unlikely that tlic Landguard tropicbird arrived within territorial limits either alive or naturally. The record has not been submitted for possible inclusion in cate­ gory D. Acknowledgments We should like to thank Bob Burridge, a Merchant seafarer and ornithologist, for his observations on tropicbirds from and on ships. S. J. W. Grigson at the Institute of Oflshore Engineering car­ ried out the analysis of the oil, kindly arranged by D. J. Lampard. The food remains were identi­ fied by Oliver Crimmen at The Natural History Museum, Dr Werner Schwarzhaus and Alison Locker. We are also grateful to The Natural History Museum, for access to skins and the library at '['ring. Tim Inskipp, Peter Lansdown and John Marchant made helpful comments on the manuscript. Summary A dead, probable immature female, Red-billed Tropicbird Phmthon adherens was found on the tide- line on the Orwell River side of Landguard Point, Suffolk, on 17th February 1993. When discov­ ered, the bird was in good condition and apparently uninjured.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Andaman and Nicobar Common Name Scientific Name
    Andaman and Nicobar Common name Scientific name ANSERIFORMES: Anatidae Lesser Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna javanica Knob-billed Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea Cotton Pygmy-Goose Nettapus coromandelianus Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata Garganey Spatula querquedula Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope Indian Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Northern Pintail Anas acuta Green-winged Teal Anas crecca Andaman Teal Anas albogularis Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula GALLIFORMES: Megapodiidae Nicobar Scrubfowl Megapodius nicobariensis GALLIFORMES: Phasianidae Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus Blue-breasted Quail Synoicus chinensis Common Quail Coturnix coturnix Jungle Bush-Quail Perdicula asiatica Painted Bush-Quail Perdicula erythrorhyncha Chinese Francolin Francolinus pintadeanus Gray Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus PODICIPEDIFORMES: Podicipedidae Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Andaman and Nicobar COLUMBIFORMES: Columbidae Rock Pigeon Columba livia Andaman Wood-Pigeon Columba palumboides Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto Red Collared-Dove Streptopelia tranquebarica Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis Andaman Cuckoo-Dove Macropygia rufipennis Asian Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica Nicobar Pigeon Caloenas nicobarica Andaman Green-Pigeon Treron chloropterus Green Imperial-Pigeon Ducula aenea Nicobar Imperial-Pigeon Ducula nicobarica Pied Imperial-Pigeon
    [Show full text]
  • Tinamiformes – Falconiformes
    LIST OF THE 2,008 BIRD SPECIES (WITH SCIENTIFIC AND ENGLISH NAMES) KNOWN FROM THE A.O.U. CHECK-LIST AREA. Notes: "(A)" = accidental/casualin A.O.U. area; "(H)" -- recordedin A.O.U. area only from Hawaii; "(I)" = introducedinto A.O.U. area; "(N)" = has not bred in A.O.U. area but occursregularly as nonbreedingvisitor; "?" precedingname = extinct. TINAMIFORMES TINAMIDAE Tinamus major Great Tinamou. Nothocercusbonapartei Highland Tinamou. Crypturellus soui Little Tinamou. Crypturelluscinnamomeus Thicket Tinamou. Crypturellusboucardi Slaty-breastedTinamou. Crypturellus kerriae Choco Tinamou. GAVIIFORMES GAVIIDAE Gavia stellata Red-throated Loon. Gavia arctica Arctic Loon. Gavia pacifica Pacific Loon. Gavia immer Common Loon. Gavia adamsii Yellow-billed Loon. PODICIPEDIFORMES PODICIPEDIDAE Tachybaptusdominicus Least Grebe. Podilymbuspodiceps Pied-billed Grebe. ?Podilymbusgigas Atitlan Grebe. Podicepsauritus Horned Grebe. Podicepsgrisegena Red-neckedGrebe. Podicepsnigricollis Eared Grebe. Aechmophorusoccidentalis Western Grebe. Aechmophorusclarkii Clark's Grebe. PROCELLARIIFORMES DIOMEDEIDAE Thalassarchechlororhynchos Yellow-nosed Albatross. (A) Thalassarchecauta Shy Albatross.(A) Thalassarchemelanophris Black-browed Albatross. (A) Phoebetriapalpebrata Light-mantled Albatross. (A) Diomedea exulans WanderingAlbatross. (A) Phoebastriaimmutabilis Laysan Albatross. Phoebastrianigripes Black-lootedAlbatross. Phoebastriaalbatrus Short-tailedAlbatross. (N) PROCELLARIIDAE Fulmarus glacialis Northern Fulmar. Pterodroma neglecta KermadecPetrel. (A) Pterodroma
    [Show full text]
  • Koa'e 'Ula Or Red-Tailed Tropicbird
    Seabirds Koa‘e ‘ula or Red-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda SPECIES STATUS: Photo: DOFAW State recognized as Indigenous NatureServe Heritage Ranking G4/G5 – Apparently secure/Secure North American Waterbird Conservation Plan – Moderate concern Regional Seabird Conservation Plan - USFWS 2005 SPECIES INFORMATION: The koa‘e ‘ula or red-tailed tropicbird is a showy, white seabird (Family: Phaethontidae) related to boobies and frigatebirds. Four koa‘e ‘ula (red-tailed tropicbird) subspecies are recognized, and one (P. r. roseotincta) breeds in Hawai‘i. Adult males and females are mostly white, although sometimes with pale pinkish wash, except for partial black eye ring and short eye line, black flanks, and black shafts of outer primaries; both sexes have long, narrow, tail feathers with red shafts. Large reddish orange bill with black tip; legs and feet are very small. Flight is characterized by strong flapping interspersed with gliding; koa‘e ‘ula (red-tailed tropicbird) are capable of flying long distances. Koa‘e ‘ula (red-tailed tropicbird) usually forage alone, but occasional with other species, most often far from land; often will follow ships. Koa‘e ‘ula (red-tailed tropicbird) captures prey by plunge diving. In Hawai‘i, diet is mainly comprised of flyingfish, but also takes squid, mackerel scads, dolphinfish, truncated sunfish, and ballonfish. Koa‘e ‘ula (red-tailed tropicbird) breed in colonies and pairs remain together for years. At the beginning of the breeding season, pairs engage in complex aerial displays. Nests are placed on the ground, and generally are a simple scrape lined with some vegetation. In Hawai‘i, breeding can occur throughout the year, but most nests are active between February and June.
    [Show full text]
  • The Red-Tailed Tropicbird on Kure Atoll
    THE RED-TAILED TROPICBIRD ON KURE ATOLL BY ROBERT R FLEET ORNITHOLOGICAL MONOGRAPHS NO. 16 PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION 1974 THE RED-TAILED TROPICBIRD ON KURE ATOLL ORNITHOLOGICAL MONOGRAPHS This series,published by the American Ornithologists'Union, has been establishedfor major paperstoo long for inclusionin the Union's journal, The Auk. Publicationhas been made possiblethrough the generosityof Mrs. Carll Tucker and the Marcia Brady Tucker Foundation,Inc. Correspondenceconcerning manuscripts for publicationin the seriesshotfid be addressedto the Editor, Dr. JohnWilliam Hardy, Florida StateMuseum, Universityof Florida, Gainesville,Florida 32611. Copies of OrnithologicalMonographs may be ordered from the Asst. Treasurerof the AOU, Glen E. Woolfenden,Dept. of Biology,University of SouthFlorida, Tampa, Florida 33620. OrnithologicalMonographs, No. 16, vi + 64 pp. Editor-in-chief, John William Hardy SpecialAssociate Editor for this issue: ThomasR. Howell Author's address:Department of Entomology,Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843. Issued December 26, 1974 Price $5.50 prepaid ($4.50 to AOU Members) Library of CongressCatalogue Card Number 74-32550 Printed by the Allen Press,Inc., Lawrence,Kansas 66044 Copyright ¸ by American Ornithologists'Union, 1974 THE RED-TAILED TROPICBIRD ON KURE ATOLL BY ROBERT R. FLEET ORNITHOLOGICAL MONOGRAPHS NO. 16 PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION 1974 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .......................................................................... 1 Locationand
    [Show full text]
  • 2019 ABA Bird of the Year on the Biology, Field Identification, and General Coolness of the Red-Billed Tropicbird, Phaethon Aethereus
    RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD | 2019 BIRD OF THE YEAR 2019 ABA Bird of the Year On the biology, field identification, and general coolness of the Red-billed Tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus IOANA SERITAN Berkeley, California [email protected] PETER PYLE San Francisco, California [email protected] 20 BIRDING | FEBRUARY 2019 he Red-billed Tropicbird is one of of the continental U.S. Read on to learn more Red-billed Tropicbird is joined by the White- three tropicbird species, all of which about tropicbirds in general and Red-billed tailed and Red-tailed tropicbirds to make up Tcan be found in the ABA Area with a Tropicbirds specifically—how to identify the monotypic family Phaethontidae within bit of legwork. Tropicbirds are a fun challenge them, where to find them, and why they are no the order Phaethontiformes. The latest ABA to find, a beauty to look at, and an interesting longer grouped with pelicans. Checklist, updated in December 2018, lists the evolutionary dilemma to consider. You may be Let’s start with some general context on White-tailed Tropicbird as Code 2 (regularly lucky enough to see a pair engaging in court- the tropicbird family. Tropicbirds are pelagic, occurring but range-restricted), while Red- ship display at a breeding site, perhaps meaning “open ocean,” birds that look kind of tailed and Red-billed are both Code 3 (rare in Hawaii, or you may be graced with like glorified terns. Their most famous phys- but annual); before Hawaii was added to the a sighting of a vagrant along ical features are the long tail plumes they ABA Area in late 2016, White-tailed was Code the East or West coast grow as adults.
    [Show full text]
  • Koa'e Kea Or White-Tailed Tropicbird
    Seabirds Koa‘e kea or White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus SPECIES STATUS: State recognized as Indigenous NatureServe Heritage Ranking G5 - Secure North American Waterbird Conservation Plan – Photo: Eric VanderWerf High concern Regional Seabird Conservation Plan - USFWS 2005 SPECIES INFORMATION: The koa‘e kea or white-tailed tropicbird is a showy, white seabird (Family: Phaethontidae), related to boobies and frigatebirds. Six koa‘e kea (white-tailed tropicbird) subspecies are recognized; only one (P. l. dorothea) breeds in Hawai‘i. Adult male and females are mostly white, although sometimes with pale pinkish wash, except for a narrow black eye patch, black streak on upper wings, and black on the leading edge of the outer primaries; both sexes have long, narrow, white central tail feathers. Large yellow-green bill; legs and feet are very small. Flight is characterized by rapid wing beats, interspersed with brief periods of gliding. Koa‘e kea (white-tailed tropicbird) usually forage alone, but occasional with conspecifics, most often far from land; often will follow ships. Koa‘e kea (white-tailed tropicbird) captures prey by plunge diving from 15 to 20 meters (50 – 65 feet) above the water. Diet is poorly known, but includes flyingfish and is likely similar to koa‘e ula or red-tailed tropicbird (P. rubricauda). Koa‘e kea (white-tailed tropicbird) breed in colonies and pairs remain together for years. At the beginning of the breeding season, pairs engage in complex aerial displays. Nests are placed in hard to reach locations on cliffs as well as in caves and tree hollows; nests have little if any material.
    [Show full text]
  • A New Tropicbird (Aves: Phaethontidae) from the Late Miocene of Austria
    ©Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, download unter www.biologiezentrum.at Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien 98 A lSI - 154 Wien, Februar 1997 A new tropicbird (Aves: Phaethontidae) from the late Miocene of Austria by Jffil MLfKOVSKYI (With 1 textfigure) Manuscript received on February 26'", 1996 Abstract A new tropicbird species, Heliadornis paratethydicus, is described from the late Miocene of Vosendorf in Austria. It is the second record of the family Phaethontidae in the Tertiary of the world. Keywords: Aves, Phaethontidae, Miocene, Austria. Zusammenfassung Eine neue Tropikvogelart, Heliadornis paratethydicus, wird aus dem Jung-Miozan von Vosendorf, Oster- reich, beschrieben. Es handelt sich urn den zweiten Beleg .der Familie Phaethontidae im Tertiar der Welt. Schliisselworter: Aves, Phaethontidae, Miozan, Osterreich. Introduction The tropicbirds (family Phaethontidae) are marine, plunge-diving birds which inhabit all tropical oceans. Their fossil record is extremely meagre, going back only to the middle Miocene (OLSON1985b). In this paper, I will describe a new tropic bird from the late Miocene (MN 10) locality Vosendorf in Niederosterreich, Austria (48.07 N, 16.19 E). The locality Vosendorf (Brunn- Vosendorf) was excavated in the 1930s and 1940s. It yielded numerous remains of vascular plants, invertebrates and vertebrates (PAPP& THENIUS1954, PAPP1985), but only two avian bones were known previously (THENIUS1954). The latter two bones are deposited in the Institute of Paleontology of the University of Wien, Austria. In 1989, I discovered in the Department of Geology and Paleontology of the Museum of Natural History in Wien, Austria, a third avian bone from Vosendorf, which is identified here as a new tropic bird species. The stratigraphy of the Neogene used herein follows MEIN (1990).
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix D. Migratory Birds in South Florida
    Appendix D. Migratory Birds in South Florida. FAMILY PELECANIDAE ORDER GAVIIFORMES Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, American White Pelican FAMILY GAVIIDAE Pelecanus occidentalis, Brown Pelican Gavia stellata, Red-throated loon FAMILY PHALACROCORACIDAE Gavia immer, Common loon Gavia pacifica, Pacific loon Phalacrocorax carbo, Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus, Double-crested Cormorant ORDER PODICIPEDIFORMES FAMILY ANHINGIDAE FAMILY PODICIPEDIDAE Anhinga anhinga, Anhinga Tachybaptus, Least Grebe Podilymbus podiceps, Pied-billed Grebe FAMILY FREGATIDAE Podiceps auritus, Horned Grebe Podiceps nigricollis, Eared Grebe Fregata magnificens, Magnificent Frigatebird ORDER PROCELLARIIFORMES ORDER CICONIIFORMES FAMILY PROCELLARIIDAE FAMILY ARDEIDAE Calonectris diomedea, Cory’s Shearwater Botaurus lentiginosus, American Bittern Puffinus gravis, Greater Shearwater Ixobrychus exilis, Least Bittern Puffinus griseus, Sooty Shearwater Ardea herodias, Great Blue Heron Puffinus puffinus, Manx Shearwater Casmerodius albus, Great Egret Puffinus lherminieri, Audubon’s Shearwater Egretta thula, Snowy Egret Egretta caerulea, Little Blue Heron FAMILY HYDROBATIDAE Egretta tricolor, Tricolored Heron Egretta rufescens, Reddish Egret Oceanites oceanicus, Wilson’s Storm-Petrel Bubulcus ibis, Cattle Egret Oceanodroma leucorhoa, Leach’s Storm-Petrel Butorides striatus, Green-backed Heron Oceanodroma castro, Band-rumped Storm-Petrel Nycticorax nycticorax, Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax violaceus, Yellow-crowned Night Heron ORDER PELECANIFORMES FAMILY THRESKIORNITHIDAE
    [Show full text]
  • Highland Records of Two Seabirds in Costa Rica
    Sandoval et al.Short: Seabirds Communications in Costa Rican highlands 73 HIGHLAND RECORDS OF TWO SEABIRDS IN COSTA RICA LUIS SANDOVAL1, JULIO SÁNCHEZ2 & PABLO ELIZONDO3 1Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro Montes de Oca, Costa Rica ([email protected]) 2Museo Nacional de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica 3Partners in Flight, Costa Rica Received 10 July 2007, accepted 31 January 2008 The avifauna of Costa Rica is better known than that of other Pomarine Jaeger Stercorarius pomarinus Neotropical countries (Stiles & Smith 1980, Sanchez et al. 1998), An adult male Pomarine Jaeger (MNCR 27026) was found although much less information is available for seabirds than for exhausted and moribund in a cattle pasture at 2600 m, San Gerardo, terrestrial species (Stiles & Smith 1977, Steinkamp & Schlatter Irazú-Cartago (9°55′ N, 83°50′ W), on 18 April 2004 by C. Quiros. 2006). The pelagic and nomadic behavior of species such as storm- The bird weighed 650 g, had heavy fat, an empty stomach, and a petrels (Hydrobatidae), shearwaters (Procellariidae) and tropicbirds left testis measuring 12×6 mm. This species is widely distributed (Phaethontidae) makes information difficult and expensive to obtain in the oceans of the world (Harrison 1985) and is a common (Harrison 1985, Spear et al. 1995). Information on Costa Rican visitor off both Costa Rican coasts, mostly well offshore (Stiles & pelagic species is primarily from sightings and museum collections Skutch 1989). This jaeger was likely pushed inland by bad weather made off the Pacific coast in the 1970s and 1980s (Stiles & Smith affecting the Caribbean coast the previous day (JS pers.
    [Show full text]
  • The Origin and Diversification of Birds
    Current Biology Review The Origin and Diversification of Birds Stephen L. Brusatte1,*, Jingmai K. O’Connor2,*, and Erich D. Jarvis3,4,* 1School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Grant Institute, King’s Buildings, James Hutton Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FE, UK 2Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China 3Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA 4Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA *Correspondence: [email protected] (S.L.B.), [email protected] (J.K.O.), [email protected] (E.D.J.) http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2015.08.003 Birds are one of the most recognizable and diverse groups of modern vertebrates. Over the past two de- cades, a wealth of new fossil discoveries and phylogenetic and macroevolutionary studies has transformed our understanding of how birds originated and became so successful. Birds evolved from theropod dino- saurs during the Jurassic (around 165–150 million years ago) and their classic small, lightweight, feathered, and winged body plan was pieced together gradually over tens of millions of years of evolution rather than in one burst of innovation. Early birds diversified throughout the Jurassic and Cretaceous, becoming capable fliers with supercharged growth rates, but were decimated at the end-Cretaceous extinction alongside their close dinosaurian relatives. After the mass extinction, modern birds (members of the avian crown group) explosively diversified, culminating in more than 10,000 species distributed worldwide today. Introduction dinosaurs Dromaeosaurus albertensis or Troodon formosus.This Birds are one of the most conspicuous groups of animals in the clade includes all living birds and extinct taxa, such as Archaeop- modern world.
    [Show full text]
  • Baja Bird Checklist
    Field Checklist of the Birds of Field Checklist of Baja California Mexico The Birds of Baja California compiled by Kurt and Cindy Radamaker Checklists available at Mexico Birding Website August 2008 http://MexicoBirding.com Kurt Radamaker Checklist for the Birds of Baja California Locality __________________________________ This list conforms to the A.O.U. checklist order and nomenclature, Observer(s) _______________________________ as of April 2007. 1 Date __________Time ______ Total Species ____ Weather __________________________________ * and in bold = Species sighted 10+- times in the last 25 years. Remarks __________________________________ e = Exirpated or Extinct † = Exotic or introduced species Documentation of unusual species should be sent to North Ameri- Locality __________________________________ can Birds regional editor, Baja Peninsula : Observer(s) _______________________________ 2 Date __________Time ______ Total Species ____ Richard A. Erickson Weather __________________________________ LSA Associates Remarks __________________________________ 20 Executive Park Suite 200 Irvine, CA 92614 Locality __________________________________ [email protected] Observer(s) _______________________________ 3 Date __________Time ______ Total Species ____ Weather __________________________________ Remarks __________________________________ Locality __________________________________ Observer(s) _______________________________ 4 Date __________Time ______ Total Species ____ Weather __________________________________ Remarks
    [Show full text]
  • Learn About Texas Birds Activity Book
    Learn about . A Learning and Activity Book Color your own guide to the birds that wing their way across the plains, hills, forests, deserts and mountains of Texas. Text Mark W. Lockwood Conservation Biologist, Natural Resource Program Editorial Direction Georg Zappler Art Director Elena T. Ivy Educational Consultants Juliann Pool Beverly Morrell © 1997 Texas Parks and Wildlife 4200 Smith School Road Austin, Texas 78744 PWD BK P4000-038 10/97 All rights reserved. No part of this work covered by the copyright hereon may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means – graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or information storage and retrieval systems – without written permission of the publisher. Another "Learn about Texas" publication from TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE PRESS ISBN- 1-885696-17-5 Key to the Cover 4 8 1 2 5 9 3 6 7 14 16 10 13 20 19 15 11 12 17 18 19 21 24 23 20 22 26 28 31 25 29 27 30 ©TPWPress 1997 1 Great Kiskadee 16 Blue Jay 2 Carolina Wren 17 Pyrrhuloxia 3 Carolina Chickadee 18 Pyrrhuloxia 4 Altamira Oriole 19 Northern Cardinal 5 Black-capped Vireo 20 Ovenbird 6 Black-capped Vireo 21 Brown Thrasher 7Tufted Titmouse 22 Belted Kingfisher 8 Painted Bunting 23 Belted Kingfisher 9 Indigo Bunting 24 Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 10 Green Jay 25 Wood Thrush 11 Green Kingfisher 26 Ruddy Turnstone 12 Green Kingfisher 27 Long-billed Thrasher 13 Vermillion Flycatcher 28 Killdeer 14 Vermillion Flycatcher 29 Olive Sparrow 15 Blue Jay 30 Olive Sparrow 31 Great Horned Owl =female =male Texas Birds More kinds of birds have been found in Texas than any other state in the United States: just over 600 species.
    [Show full text]