Text extracted from Gill B.J.; Bell, B.D.; Chambers, G.K.; Medway, D.G.; Palma, R.L.; Scofield, R.P.; Tennyson, A.J.D.; Worthy, T.H. 2010. Checklist of the of New Zealand, Norfolk and Macquarie Islands, and the Ross Dependency, Antarctica. 4th edition. Wellington, Te Papa Press and Ornithological Society of New Zealand. Pages 138-141.

Order : , , and Allies The close relationship between the families Sulidae, Phalacrocoracidae and Anhingidae has been supported by most recent work, however, the monophyly of the traditional larger grouping of Pelecaniformes is the subject of ongoing debate (e.g. Sibley & Ahlquist 1990, Johnsgard 1993, Christidis & Boles 1994, Kennedy et al. 2000, Livezey & Zusi 2001, van Tuinen et al. 2001, Fain & Houde 2004, Kennedy & Spencer 2004, Nelson 2005, Christidis & Boles 2008). For this reason we have separated Phaethontidae to its own . We are aware that Pelecanus may be related to Ciconiiformes (see Christidis & Boles 2008), but we retain the traditional grouping in the absence of a resolution of these higher-level relationships. Given the uncertainty, the suborders and superfamilies followed by Checklist Committee (1990) have not been used here. Otherwise, a traditional approach to the families is retained, pending resolution of the issues. The sequence of pelecaniform families follows Checklist Committee (1990) for consistency, and agrees with del Hoyo et al. (1992). The sequence of within families follows Checklist Committee (1990) unless noted.

Family SULIDAE Reichenbach: Gannets and Sulinae Reichenbach, 1849: Avium Syst. Nat.: 6 – Type Sula Brisson, 1760.

Morus and Sula are considered generically distinct (Olson 1985b, van Tets et al. 1988, BOU Records Committee 1991, Friesen & Anderson 1997, Nelson 2005).

Genus Sula Brisson Sula Brisson, 1760: Ornithologie 1: 60; 6: 494 – Type species (by tautonymy) Sula leucogaster Boddaert. Dysporus Illiger, 1811: Prodromus Syst. Mamm. Avium: 279. Unnecessary nomen novum for Sula Brisson, 1760. Hemisula Mathews, 1913: Austral Avian Rec. 2: 55 – Type species (by original designation) Sula leucogaster rogersi Mathews. Parasula Mathews, 1913: Austral Avian Rec. 2: 55 – Type species (by original designation) Sula dactylatra bedouti Mathews.

In his list of New Zealand birds, Gray (1862: 250) included “Sula fiber”, with the following localities: “Enderby’s Island; Lord Howe’s Island?”. We are unable to identify this species, so regard it as a nomen dubium.

Sula leucogaster Boddaert Brown Pelecanus Leucogaster Boddaert, 1783: Tables des Planches Enluminéez d’Histoire Naturelle de M. d’Aubenton: 57, pl. 973 – Cayenne, South America.

Breeds on tropical islands of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea. Four subspecies; three outside New Zealand region (Dorst & Mougin 1979, Carboneras 1992b): breeding on Atlantic and Caribbean islands (S. l. leucogaster) and on eastern Pacific islands (S. l. brewsteri Goss, 1888 and S. l. etesiaca Thayer & Bangs, 1905). All subspecies considered doubtfully distinct by some authors (e.g. Marchant & Higgins 1990).

Sula leucogaster plotus Forster Pelecanus Plotus J.R. Forster, 1844: in Lichtenstein Descrip. Animalium: 278 – near New Caledonia. Sula fusca; Hamilton 1889, Trans. Proc. N.Z. Inst. 21: 128. Not Sula fusca Vieillot, 1825. Sula sula; Buller 1905, Suppl. Birds N.Z. 2: 50. Not Pelecanus sula Linnaeus, 1766. Hemisula leucogaster plotus (Forster); Mathews 1913, List Birds Australia: 99. Sula leucogaster rogersi Mathews, 1913: Austral Avian Rec. 1: 189 – Bedout Island, Western Australia. Sula leucogaster; Oliver 1930, New Zealand Birds, 1st edition: 205. Not Pelecanus Leucogaster Boddaert, 1783. Sula leucogaster plotus (Forster); Checklist Committee 1953, Checklist N.Z. Birds: 28.

This race breeds on tropical islands in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, also the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (Dorst & Mougin 1979). Reaches New Zealand waters probably every (e.g. Powlesland & Powlesland 1993, Veitch et al. 2004), rarely south to about 45°S (Pierce 1969). Sometimes these vagrants reside in an area for several months (e.g. Gaze 1975; Guest 1992; Taylor & Parrish 1992, 1994a) and may associate with gannets (e.g. Stein 1952, Hawkins et al. 1992, Hawkins & Cook 1994). A banded juvenile from Johnston Atoll was collected offshore from Okarito in 1986 (NMNZ 23569).