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Volume 45, No. 1

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Out-of-range sighting of a South Georgian Diving Petrel Pelecanoides georgicus in the southeast Atlantic Ocean


Authors

DOMINIC P. ROLLINSON1, PATRICK CARDWELL2, ANDREW DE BLOCQ1 & JUSTIN R. NICOLAU3
1 Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa (domrollinson@gmail.com)
2 Avian Leisure, Simon's Town, 7975, South Africa
3 Vorna Valley, Midrand, 1686, South Africa

Citation

ROLLINSON, D.P., CARDWELL, P., DE BLOCQ, A. & NICOLAU, J.R. 2017. Out-of-range sighting of a South Georgian Diving Petrel Pelecanoides georgicus in the southeast Atlantic Ocean. Marine Ornithology 45: 21 - 22

Received 21 August 2016; accepted 29 October 2016

Date Published: 2017/04/15
Date Online: 2017/02/28
Key words: vagrant, at-sea identification, breeding islands, South Georgian Diving Petrel

Abstract

Because of the difficulties of at-sea identification of diving-petrels, little is known about the distribution of Pelecanoides species away from their breeding islands. Here we report an individual that collided with a vessel in the southeast Atlantic Ocean. The species could be confirmed by detailed examination of the bill and nostrils. This record represents a considerable range extension of South Georgian Diving Petrel Pelecanoides georgicus and the farthest from its breeding islands to be confirmed. It suggests that diving-petrels disperse farther from breeding islands than previously known.

References


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